diff --git a/.github/workflows/approval-check-worker.yml b/.github/workflows/approval-check-worker.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 675ffb9e2110f..0000000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/approval-check-worker.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-name: Approval Check Worker
-
-on:
-  pull_request_review:
-    types: [submitted, dismissed]
- 
-jobs:
-  check-approvals:
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-      pull-requests: write
-      statuses: write
-      issues: write
-      
-    uses: tetherto/qvac-devops/.github/workflows/approval-check-worker.yml@production-workflows-tag
-    secrets: inherit
-    with:
-      pr_number: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
-      pr_sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/approval-worker.yml b/.github/workflows/approval-worker.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..efc9d9330f653
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/approval-worker.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+name: Approval Check Worker
+
+on:
+  issue_comment:
+    types: [created]
+    
+jobs:
+  run-when-command:
+    if: >
+      github.event.issue.pull_request != null &&
+      (contains(github.event.comment.body, '/review') || contains(github.event.comment.body, 'review'))
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      pull-requests: write
+      issues: write
+      statuses: write
+
+    outputs:
+      number: ${{ steps.pr.outputs.number }}
+      sha: ${{ steps.pr.outputs.sha }}
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Get latest PR head SHA
+        id: pr
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          script: |
+            const prNumber = context.payload.issue.number;
+            const { data: pr } = await github.rest.pulls.get({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              pull_number: prNumber,
+            });
+            core.setOutput('number', String(prNumber));
+            core.setOutput('sha', pr.head.sha);
+
+  check-approvals:
+    needs: run-when-command
+    if: ${{ always() && needs.run-when-command.result == 'success' }}
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
+      statuses: write
+      issues: write
+    uses: tetherto/qvac-devops/.github/workflows/approval-check-worker.yml@production-workflows-tag
+    secrets: inherit
+    with:
+      pr_number: ${{ fromJSON(needs.run-when-command.outputs.number) }}
+      pr_sha: ${{ needs.run-when-command.outputs.sha }}