diff --git a/.github/workflows/branchtest.yml b/.github/workflows/branchtest.yml
index 998f27919..f279d1b77 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/branchtest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/branchtest.yml
@@ -1,19 +1,38 @@
 name: Deploy and Test Branch
 
 on:
+  pull_request_review:
+    types: [submitted]
+  pull_request_target:
+    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       branch:
         description: 'Branch to deploy and test'
         required: true
         default: 'develop'
-  pull_request:
-      types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
-      branches: [develop]
 
 jobs:
+  check-pr-approval:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
+    outputs:
+      approved: ${{ steps.check.outputs.approved }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Check if PR is approved or author is a contributor
+        id: check
+        run: |
+          if [[ "${{ github.event.review.state }}" == "approved" ]] || \
+             [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.author_association }}" =~ ^(OWNER|MEMBER|COLLABORATOR)$ ]]; then
+            echo "approved=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "approved=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
+
   skip-check:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [check-pr-approval]
+    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || needs.check-pr-approval.outputs.approved == 'true'
     outputs:
       skip: ${{ steps.skip.outputs.skip }}
     steps:
@@ -24,8 +43,8 @@ jobs:
   
   getbranch:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: skip-check
-    if: ${{ needs.skip-check.outputs.skip != 'true' }}
+    needs: [skip-check, check-pr-approval]
+    if: (needs.skip-check.outputs.skip != 'true') && (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || needs.check-pr-approval.outputs.approved == 'true')
     outputs:
       netclientbranch: ${{ steps.getbranch.outputs.netclientbranch }}
       netmakerbranch: ${{ steps.getbranch.outputs.netmakerbranch }}
@@ -37,14 +56,16 @@ jobs:
             echo "NETMAKER_BRANCH=${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
             echo "NETCLIENT_BRANCH=${{ github.event.inputs.branch }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           else
-            echo "NETMAKER_BRANCH=${{ github.head_ref }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            echo "NETMAKER_BRANCH=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref || github.head_ref }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
             echo "NETCLIENT_BRANCH=develop" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           fi
+
       - name: Checkout netclient repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           repository: gravitl/netclient
           fetch-depth: 0
+
       - name: Check if netclient branch exists and set output
         id: getbranch 
         run: |
@@ -59,7 +80,8 @@ jobs:
 
   branchtest:
     uses: gravitl/devops/.github/workflows/testdeploybranch.yml@master
-    needs: [getbranch, skip-check]
+    needs: [getbranch, skip-check, check-pr-approval]
+    if: (needs.skip-check.outputs.skip != 'true') && (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || needs.check-pr-approval.outputs.approved == 'true')
     with:
       netclientbranch: ${{ needs.getbranch.outputs.netclientbranch }}
       netmakerbranch: ${{ needs.getbranch.outputs.netmakerbranch }}