diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-image.yml b/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
index b1c80ee36..a9d488a06 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-image.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ name: Build image
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: ["develop", "master", "demo"]
+    # chore/simplify-deployment is temporary, for pre-merge testing of this
+    # workflow itself — remove before merge
+    branches: ["develop", "master", "demo", "chore/simplify-deployment"]
     tags: ["v*"]
   workflow_dispatch: