diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 884b7a233..9079490de 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 name: ci
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      kubo-version:
+        description: Kubo version to use during the run
+        required: false
   push:
     branches:
       - main
@@ -61,6 +65,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ipfs/download-ipfs-distribution-action@v1
         with:
           name: kubo
+          version: ${{ github.event.inputs.kubo-version }}
       - uses: ipfs/download-ipfs-distribution-action@v1
         with:
           name: ipfs-cluster-ctl
@@ -136,13 +141,13 @@ jobs:
 
       # dev dnslink is updated on each main branch update
       - run: npx dnslink-dnsimple --domain dev.webui.ipfs.io --link /ipfs/${{ steps.ipfs.outputs.cid }}
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && !github.event.inputs.kubo-version
         env:
           DNSIMPLE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.DNSIMPLE_TOKEN }}
 
       # production dnslink is updated on release (during tag build)
       - run: npx dnslink-dnsimple --domain webui.ipfs.io --link /ipfs/${{ steps.ipfs.outputs.cid }}
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && !github.event.inputs.kubo-version
         env:
           DNSIMPLE_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.DNSIMPLE_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -221,7 +226,7 @@ jobs:
           name: ipfs-webui_${{ github.sha }}.car
 
       - name: Dry-run semantic release
-        if: github.ref != 'refs/heads/main'
+        if: github.ref != 'refs/heads/main' && !github.event.inputs.kubo-version
         run: |
           git config user.name "ipfs-gui-bot"
           git config user.email "108953096+ipfs-gui-bot@users.noreply.github.com"
@@ -231,7 +236,7 @@ jobs:
 
       # Update the version (npm version [major|minor|patch])
       - name: Run semantic release
-        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && !github.event.inputs.kubo-version
         run: |
           git config user.name "ipfs-gui-bot"
           git config user.email "108953096+ipfs-gui-bot@users.noreply.github.com"