diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 24aba71..d4ae9e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 name: test suite
 run-name: test suite for ${{ github.event.pull_request.title || github.ref }}
 on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      tmate_enabled:
+        type: boolean
+        description: |
+          Run the build with tmate debugging enabled (https://github.com/marketplace/actions/debugging-with-tmate). 
+          This disables all but the test-full jobs.
+        required: false
+        default: false
   push:
     branches:
       - main
@@ -64,6 +73,11 @@ jobs:
             platform: darwin/aarch64
           # - os: windows-latest
     steps:
+      - name: Setup tmate session
+        if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && inputs.tmate_enabled }}
+        uses: mxschmitt/action-tmate@v3
+        with:
+          detached: true
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: dsherret/rust-toolchain-file@v1
       - uses: denoland/setup-deno@v1