diff --git a/.github/workflows/api.yml b/.github/workflows/api.yml
index d8220734ce..9e8aa2e544 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,19 @@ on:
       - 'packages/db/**'
       - '.github/workflows/api.yml'
       - 'package-lock.json'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      force_deploy_staging:
+        description: whether to deploy to staging even if the job wouldn't normally run
+        required: true
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
+      force_deploy_production:
+        description: whether to deploy to production even if the job wouldn't normally run
+        required: true
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
+
 jobs:
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -52,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
 
   deploy-staging:
     name: Deploy Staging
-    if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+    if: (github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main') || inputs.force_deploy_staging
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: test
     environment:
@@ -88,7 +101,7 @@ jobs:
   
   deploy-production:
     name: Deploy Production
-    if: (github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && needs.changelog.outputs.releases_created) || inputs.force_release
+    if: (github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && needs.changelog.outputs.releases_created) || inputs.force_deploy_production
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs:
       - test