diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey.md b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey.md
index 321804a3..c9a7fcbd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey.md
@@ -166,11 +166,14 @@ ${{ steps.smoke-data.outputs.SMOKE_PR_DATA }}
 
 ## Output
 
-Add a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) to the current pull request with:
+**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment` to post a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) on the current pull request with:
 - PR titles only (no descriptions)
 - ✅ or ❌ for each test result
 - Note: "Running in direct BYOK mode (COPILOT_PROVIDER_API_KEY + COPILOT_PROVIDER_BASE_URL) via api-proxy → Azure OpenAI (Foundry, o4-mini-aw)"
 - Overall status: PASS or FAIL
 - Mention the pull request author and any assignees
 
-If all tests pass, add the label `smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey` to the pull request.
+If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:
+- Use the `add_labels` safe-output tool to add the label `smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey` to the pull request
+
+**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop` with a concise PASS/FAIL summary instead. Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra.md b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra.md
index be5c55d5..d3c81348 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra.md
@@ -202,11 +202,14 @@ ${{ steps.smoke-data.outputs.SMOKE_PR_DATA }}
 
 ## Output
 
-Add a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) to the current pull request with:
+**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment` to post a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) on the current pull request with:
 - PR titles only (no descriptions)
 - ✅ or ❌ for each test result
 - Note: "Running in direct BYOK mode (AWF_AUTH_TYPE=github-oidc + AWF_AUTH_AZURE_* + COPILOT_PROVIDER_BASE_URL) via api-proxy → Azure OpenAI (Foundry, o4-mini-aw) authenticated via Microsoft Entra"
 - Overall status: PASS or FAIL
 - Mention the pull request author and any assignees
 
-If all tests pass, add the label `smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra` to the pull request.
+If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:
+- Use the `add_labels` safe-output tool to add the label `smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra` to the pull request
+
+**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop` with a concise PASS/FAIL summary instead. Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok.md b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok.md
index 651f0ad9..c61022ce 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-byok.md
@@ -156,14 +156,17 @@ You are running in direct BYOK mode right now. The fact that you can read this p
 
 ## Output
 
-Add a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) to the current pull request with:
+**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment` to post a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) on the current pull request with:
 - PR titles only (no descriptions)
 - ✅ or ❌ for each test result
 - Note: "Running in direct BYOK mode (COPILOT_PROVIDER_API_KEY) via api-proxy → api.githubcopilot.com"
 - Overall status: PASS or FAIL
 - Mention the pull request author and any assignees
 
-If all tests pass, add the label `smoke-copilot-byok` to the pull request.
+If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:
+- Use the `add_labels` safe-output tool to add the label `smoke-copilot-byok` to the pull request
+
+**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop` with a concise PASS/FAIL summary instead. Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.
 
 ## Pre-Fetched Data
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-pat.md b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-pat.md
index d7c63914..2728ff19 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-pat.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot-pat.md
@@ -134,11 +134,14 @@ ${{ steps.smoke-data.outputs.SMOKE_PR_DATA }}
 
 ## Output
 
-Add a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) to the current pull request with:
+**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment` to post a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) on the current pull request with:
 - PR titles only (no descriptions)
 - ✅ or ❌ for each test result
 - Overall status: PASS or FAIL
 - Mention the pull request author and any assignees
 - Note: "Auth mode: PAT (COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN)"
 
-If all tests pass, add the label `smoke-copilot-pat` to the pull request.
+If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:
+- Use the `add_labels` safe-output tool to add the label `smoke-copilot-pat` to the pull request
+
+**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop` with a concise PASS/FAIL summary instead. Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot.md b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot.md
index 334c15d7..b6816c4d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-copilot.md
@@ -127,10 +127,13 @@ ${{ steps.smoke-data.outputs.SMOKE_PR_DATA }}
 
 ## Output
 
-Add a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) to the current pull request with:
+**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment` to post a **very brief** comment (max 5-10 lines) on the current pull request with:
 - PR titles only (no descriptions)
 - ✅ or ❌ for each test result
 - Overall status: PASS or FAIL
 - Mention the pull request author and any assignees
 
-If all tests pass, add the label `smoke-copilot` to the pull request.
\ No newline at end of file
+If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:
+- Use the `add_labels` safe-output tool to add the label `smoke-copilot` to the pull request
+
+**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop` with a concise PASS/FAIL summary instead. Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/ci/smoke-copilot-workflow.test.ts b/scripts/ci/smoke-copilot-workflow.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1bcd245f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ci/smoke-copilot-workflow.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as path from 'path';
+
+const workflowsDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../.github/workflows');
+
+const copilotSmokeWorkflows = [
+  { name: 'smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey', file: 'smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-apikey.md' },
+  { name: 'smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra', file: 'smoke-copilot-byok-aoai-entra.md' },
+  { name: 'smoke-copilot-byok', file: 'smoke-copilot-byok.md' },
+  { name: 'smoke-copilot', file: 'smoke-copilot.md' },
+  { name: 'smoke-copilot-pat', file: 'smoke-copilot-pat.md' },
+];
+
+describe('smoke copilot workflow output requirements', () => {
+  for (const workflow of copilotSmokeWorkflows) {
+    it(`${workflow.name}: requires noop fallback when no pull request context exists`, () => {
+      const source = fs.readFileSync(path.join(workflowsDir, workflow.file), 'utf-8');
+
+      expect(source).toContain('**If triggered by a pull request**, call `add_comment`');
+      expect(source).toContain('If all tests pass on a pull request trigger:');
+      expect(source).toContain(
+        '**If triggered by workflow_dispatch or schedule** (no PR context), call `noop`'
+      );
+      expect(source).toContain(
+        'Do NOT attempt to add pull request comments or labels when there is no pull request.'
+      );
+    });
+  }
+});