diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c2e5cf2..046314f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -10,12 +10,19 @@ on:
   repository_dispatch:
     types:
       - metwork-trigger*
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      workflow_branch:
+        description: branch to use
+        required: true
+        type: string
 
 env:
     WORKFLOW_SCRIPTS_DIR: .github/workflows
     DOCKER_WORKFLOW_SCRIPTS_DIR: /src/.github/workflows
     PAYLOAD_BRANCH: ${{ github.event.client_payload.branch}}
     PAYLOAD_OS: ${{ github.event.client_payload.os}}
+    WORKFLOW_BRANCH: ${{ github.event.inputs.workflow_branch }}
 
 jobs:
   ci_build:
@@ -25,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: ${{ github.event.client_payload.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ github.event.client_payload.branch || github.event.inputs.workflow_branch || github.ref }}
       - name: set variables
         id: SetVariables
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/set_variables.sh b/.github/workflows/set_variables.sh
index 20f8a9f..4671574 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/set_variables.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/set_variables.sh
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ case "${GITHUB_EVENT_NAME}" in
         else
             OS_VERSION=${PAYLOAD_OS}
         fi;;
+    workflow_dispatch)
+        B=${WORKFLOW_BRANCH}
+        if [ -f .build_os ]; then
+            OS_VERSION=`cat .build_os`
+        else
+            OS_VERSION=${PAYLOAD_OS}
+        fi;;
     push)
         if [ -f .build_os ]; then
             OS_VERSION=`cat .build_os`