diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 7ba77181b..1601bc7e3 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 ## Checklist
 
 *Do not delete any line. Leave **unfinished** elements unchecked so others know how far along you are.\
-In the end all checkboxes must be ticked before you can merge*.
+In the end all checkboxes must be ticked before you can merge*. (You may skip this list if only .md files are changed.)
 
 - [ ] **I executed the automated model tests (`make test`) after my final commit and all tests pass (`FAIL 0`)**
 - [ ] **I adjusted the reporting in [`remind2`](https://github.com/pik-piam/remind2) if and where it was needed**
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-pr-description-code.yaml b/.github/workflows/check-pr-description-code.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82a9d74ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-pr-description-code.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened, reopened, edited, ready_for_review]
+    branches-ignore:
+      - 'master'
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**.md'
+
+name: check-pr-checklist
+
+jobs:
+  check-pr-checklist:
+    if: github.event.pull_request.draft == false
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check PR Checklist
+        env:
+          PR_DESCRIPTION: ${{ github.event.pull_request.body }}
+        run: |
+          ERROR_FOUND=0
+          
+          # Check 1: All checkboxes in "Checklist" must be checked
+          CHECKLIST_SECTION=$(echo "$PR_DESCRIPTION" | sed -n '/## Checklist/,/## Further information (optional)/p')
+          if echo "$CHECKLIST_SECTION" | grep -q "\[ \]"; then
+            echo "ERROR: Unchecked checkboxes found in 'Checklist' section."
+            echo "All checklist items must be checked before merging."
+            ERROR_FOUND=1
+          fi
+          
+          if [ $ERROR_FOUND -eq 1 ]; then
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          
+          echo "Success: All PR template requirements are fulfilled."
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-pr-description.yaml b/.github/workflows/check-pr-description.yaml
index bf2735beb..8178492ed 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-pr-description.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-pr-description.yaml
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@ on:
     types: [opened, reopened, edited, ready_for_review]
     branches-ignore:
       - 'master'
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**.md'
+
+name: check-pr-description
 
 jobs:
-  check-pr-template:
+  check-pr-code-tasks:
     if: github.event.pull_request.draft == false
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Check PR description
+      - name: Check PR Description
         env:
           PR_DESCRIPTION: ${{ github.event.pull_request.body }}
         run: |
@@ -31,16 +35,8 @@ jobs:
             ERROR_FOUND=1
           fi
           
-          # Check 3: All checkboxes in "Checklist" must be checked
-          CHECKLIST_SECTION=$(echo "$PR_DESCRIPTION" | sed -n '/## Checklist/,/## Further information (optional)/p')
-          if echo "$CHECKLIST_SECTION" | grep -q "\[ \]"; then
-            echo "ERROR: Unchecked checkboxes found in 'Checklist' section."
-            echo "All checklist items must be checked before merging."
-            ERROR_FOUND=1
-          fi
-          
           if [ $ERROR_FOUND -eq 1 ]; then
             exit 1
           fi
           
-          echo "Success: All PR template requirements are fulfilled."
\ No newline at end of file
+          echo "Success: All PR template requirements are fulfilled."