diff --git a/.github/workflows/checklist_comment_on_new_pr.yml b/.github/workflows/checklist_comment_on_new_pr.yml
index fda81de21..cb287ef05 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checklist_comment_on_new_pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checklist_comment_on_new_pr.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Comment on new Pull Request with checklist
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  # safe as long as this workflow doesn't access code from the PR branch
+  pull_request_target:
     types: opened
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-bench.yml b/.github/workflows/run-bench.yml
index 1b9533cad..68eff8ab0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-bench.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-bench.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ on:
       - '**/src/main/java/**'
       - 'pom.xml'
       - '**/pom.xml'
+      - '.github/workflows/run-bench.yml'
 
 jobs:
   # Job to generate the matrix configuration
@@ -41,8 +42,8 @@ jobs:
 
           # Default branches based on event type
           if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" ]]; then
-            echo "Pull request detected. Using main and PR branch: ${{ github.head_ref }}"
-            BRANCHES='["main", "${{ github.head_ref }}"]'
+            echo "Pull request detected. Using main and PR ref: ${{ github.ref }}"
+            BRANCHES='["main", "${{ github.ref }}"]'
           elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "workflow_dispatch" && -n "${{ github.event.inputs.branches }}" ]]; then
             # Parse space-separated branches input into JSON array
             echo "Workflow dispatch with branches input detected"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-compaction.yml b/.github/workflows/run-compaction.yml
index 49f72b64b..4fdc9ad58 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-compaction.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-compaction.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ on:
       - '**/src/main/java/**'
       - 'pom.xml'
       - '**/pom.xml'
+      - '.github/workflows/run-compaction.yml'
 
 jobs:
   # Job to generate the matrix configuration
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         id: set-matrix
         run: |
           if [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" ]]; then
-            BRANCHES='["main", "${{ github.head_ref }}"]'
+            BRANCHES='["main", "${{ github.ref }}"]'
           elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "workflow_dispatch" && -n "${{ github.event.inputs.branches }}" ]]; then
             BRANCHES_INPUT="${{ github.event.inputs.branches }}"
             BRANCHES="["
diff --git a/jvector-examples/src/main/java/io/github/jbellis/jvector/example/AutoBenchYAML.java b/jvector-examples/src/main/java/io/github/jbellis/jvector/example/AutoBenchYAML.java
index 3f5be3d7d..24c39ae47 100644
--- a/jvector-examples/src/main/java/io/github/jbellis/jvector/example/AutoBenchYAML.java
+++ b/jvector-examples/src/main/java/io/github/jbellis/jvector/example/AutoBenchYAML.java
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
         var datasetCollection = DatasetCollection.load();
         var datasetNames = datasetCollection.getSection(REGRESSION_TEST_KEY).stream().filter(dn -> pattern.matcher(dn).find()).collect(Collectors.toList());
 
+        if (datasetNames.size() == 0) {
+            throw new RuntimeException("No datasets matched the given patterns, nothing to do");
+        }
+
         logger.info("Executing the following datasets: {}", datasetNames);
         List<BenchResult> results = new ArrayList<>();
         List<BenchResult> compactionResults = new ArrayList<>();