diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yml b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
index 44ca4cc..4b97b6b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -331,3 +331,19 @@ jobs:
 
           echo "::error::feat: or fix: commits require a VERSION bump. Update VERSION and commit before merging. Use '[skip version]' in the commit subject or body to opt out for workflow-only changes."
           exit 1
+
+  test-drift-check:
+    name: Run drift_check tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.12"
+
+      - name: Install test dependencies
+        run: pip install -r requirements-test.txt
+
+      - name: Run drift_check tests
+        run: pytest tests/ -v
diff --git a/requirements-test.txt b/requirements-test.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5293116
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements-test.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pytest>=8.0,<9.0