diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit-build.yml b/.github/workflows/unit-build.yml
index 5a42511f0b..b5983dbe2d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit-build.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ on:
     branches: [ master, release ]
   pull_request:
     branches: [ master, release ]
+  workflow_dispatch:  # manually launch from GitHub actions
 
 jobs:
   build: