diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index b7b954227..5e88234b5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,29 @@
 
 name: build
 
-on: [push, pull_request]
+on:
+  push:
+    paths:
+      - 'pkg/arvo'
+      - 'pkg/docker-image'
+      - 'pkg/ent'
+      - 'pkg/ge-additions'
+      - 'pkg/hs'
+      - 'pkg/libaes_siv'
+      - 'pkg/urbit'
+      - 'bin'
+      - 'nix'
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'pkg/arvo'
+      - 'pkg/docker-image'
+      - 'pkg/ent'
+      - 'pkg/ge-additions'
+      - 'pkg/hs'
+      - 'pkg/libaes_siv'
+      - 'pkg/urbit'
+      - 'bin'
+      - 'nix'
 
 jobs:
   urbit: