diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml
index b1c655e3..78a3c282 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml
@@ -16,24 +16,17 @@ name: Fresh-install smoke
 # don't pay the build cost.
 
 on:
+  # No `paths:` filter — branch protection on `main` + `stable` lists
+  # `fresh-install` as a REQUIRED check, and a path-filtered trigger
+  # that skipped on unrelated PRs (e.g. frontend-only) would leave the
+  # required check "missing" forever and block the merge. Better to
+  # pay the boot cost on every PR than maintain a per-path allowlist
+  # that drifts as the install surface evolves. (Branches also updated
+  # post-#669 rename: beta → main, old main → stable.)
   push:
-    branches: [main, beta]
-    paths:
-      - 'backend/Dockerfile'
-      - 'backend/wait-for-db.sh'
-      - 'backend/migrations/**'
-      - 'backend/package*.json'
-      - 'docker-compose.production.yml'
-      - '.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml'
+    branches: [main, stable]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [main, beta]
-    paths:
-      - 'backend/Dockerfile'
-      - 'backend/wait-for-db.sh'
-      - 'backend/migrations/**'
-      - 'backend/package*.json'
-      - 'docker-compose.production.yml'
-      - '.github/workflows/install-smoke.yml'
+    branches: [main, stable]
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml b/.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml
index 8811d77b..f9d94716 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml
@@ -30,20 +30,17 @@ name: Schema drift (#530)
 # the same shape is caught before merge.
 
 on:
+  # No `paths:` filter — branch protection on `main` + `stable` lists
+  # `upgrade-from-bootstrap` as a REQUIRED check. A path-filtered
+  # trigger that skipped on unrelated PRs would leave the required
+  # check "missing" forever, blocking every PR that doesn't touch
+  # migrations. The ~75-second cost on every PR buys an unconditional
+  # safety net. (Branches also updated post-#669 rename: beta → main,
+  # old main → stable.)
   push:
-    branches: [main, beta]
-    paths:
-      - 'backend/migrations/**'
-      - 'backend/src/database/db.js'
-      - 'backend/knexfile.js'
-      - '.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml'
+    branches: [main, stable]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [main, beta]
-    paths:
-      - 'backend/migrations/**'
-      - 'backend/src/database/db.js'
-      - 'backend/knexfile.js'
-      - '.github/workflows/schema-drift.yml'
+    branches: [main, stable]
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 permissions: