diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml
index d8aa4dd7..716ac6bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Deploy docs website to GitHub Pages
+name: Generate docs website to GitHub Pages
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -7,13 +7,19 @@ on:
     paths:
       - '.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml'
       - 'website/**'
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - '.github/workflows/deploy-docs.yaml'
+      - 'website/**'
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
 jobs:
   deploy:
-    name: Deploy docs website to GitHub Pages
+    name: Generate docs website to GitHub Pages
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       contents: write
@@ -48,10 +54,11 @@ jobs:
       - run: yarn install --frozen-lockfile
       - run: yarn build
 
+      # deploy only after PR is merged to main
       - name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && github.event_name == 'push' && github.repository == 'project-copacetic/copacetic'
         uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@373f7f263a76c20808c831209c920827a82a2847 # v3.9.3
-        if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           publish_dir: ./website/build
-          destination_dir: ./website
\ No newline at end of file
+          destination_dir: ./website