diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c3688d9..e30dcd5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
   pull_request:
+    # The gate skips drafts; ready_for_review runs it when a draft is marked ready.
+    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, ready_for_review]
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
diff --git a/log/devlog.md b/log/devlog.md
index c7e1848..92bcad8 100644
--- a/log/devlog.md
+++ b/log/devlog.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 Newest entry first. Format: `standards/devlog.md` in emolysis/rules (private).
 
+## 2026-10-23 · ci: a draft pull request runs its checks when it is marked ready (green)
+
+- Landed: `ci.yml` lists `ready_for_review` in its `pull_request` types, so a draft runs the gate when it is marked ready instead of on its next push; `scripts/check.py` refuses a workflow whose jobs skip drafts without it (`draft_trigger_problems`), with three tests.
+- Numbers: one workflow line, one check, 53 tests.
+- Still open: none.
+
 ## 2026-10-20 · ci: minute saving in the workflows (green)
 
 - Landed: `claude-review.yml` reviews once per pull request (`opened`, `ready_for_review`, the `review` label), never on every push, with a cancel group per pull request; `ci.yml` cancels the run a newer push supersedes on every ref and skips draft pull requests; the `review` label; the starter workflow ignores Markdown and `docs/` on push and pull request and cancels on every branch (spec updated); `scripts/check.py` refuses a review workflow that runs on push events (`review_trigger_problems`), with four tests. Founder decision of 2026-10-20 after the organization ran out of Action minutes.
diff --git a/scripts/check.py b/scripts/check.py
index 294428e..bc5752e 100644
--- a/scripts/check.py
+++ b/scripts/check.py
@@ -325,9 +325,28 @@ def check_workflows() -> Problems:
             problems.append(f"{path}: set top-level permissions explicitly")
         if path == REVIEW_WORKFLOW:
             problems += review_trigger_problems(path, doc)
+        problems += draft_trigger_problems(path, doc)
     return problems
 
 
+def draft_trigger_problems(path: Path, doc: Any) -> Problems:
+    """A workflow whose jobs skip drafts lists ready_for_review in its pull_request types:
+    the default types never fire when a draft is marked ready, so it would run nothing until
+    the next push (emolysis/rules standards/ci.md, Minutes, Drafts)."""
+    doc = doc or {}
+    jobs = doc.get("jobs") or {}
+    skips = any(
+        "github.event.pull_request.draft" in str((job or {}).get("if", "")) for job in jobs.values()
+    )
+    on = workflow_on(doc)
+    if not skips or not isinstance(on, dict) or "pull_request" not in on:
+        return []
+    types = (on.get("pull_request") or {}).get("types") or []
+    if "ready_for_review" not in types:
+        return [f"{path}: jobs skip drafts, so pull_request.types must list ready_for_review"]
+    return []
+
+
 def review_trigger_problems(path: Path, doc: Any) -> Problems:
     """The automated review runs once per pull request, never on every push: a review
     spends runner minutes and API credit (emolysis/rules standards/ci.md, Minutes)."""
diff --git a/tests/test_check.py b/tests/test_check.py
index a3b060c..05828d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_check.py
+++ b/tests/test_check.py
@@ -95,6 +95,32 @@ def test_review_trigger_default_types() -> None:
     assert "synchronize" in problem
 
 
+# --- a draft marked ready runs the jobs that skip drafts ---------------------------------
+
+
+DRAFT_JOB = """
+jobs:
+  gate:
+    if: ${{ !github.event.pull_request.draft }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+"""
+READY = "on:\n  pull_request:\n    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, ready_for_review]\n"
+
+
+def test_draft_trigger_ok() -> None:
+    assert check.draft_trigger_problems(P, doc(READY + DRAFT_JOB)) == []
+
+
+def test_draft_trigger_default_types() -> None:
+    [problem] = check.draft_trigger_problems(P, doc("on:\n  pull_request:\n" + DRAFT_JOB))
+    assert "ready_for_review" in problem
+
+
+def test_draft_trigger_ignores_workflows_without_a_draft_guard() -> None:
+    plain = doc("on:\n  pull_request:\njobs:\n  gate:\n    runs-on: ubuntu-latest\n")
+    assert check.draft_trigger_problems(P, plain) == []
+
+
 # --- labels that start automation stay off issue forms ------------------------------------