diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e56ab38..790467b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -62,3 +62,10 @@ jobs:
         run: docker compose -f docker-compose.standard.yml config --quiet
       - name: Validate tier 3 compose
         run: docker compose -f docker-compose.search.yml config --quiet
+  ci-success:
+    name: CI Success
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [backend, frontend, smoke]
+    if: success()
+    steps:
+      - run: echo "CI passed, ready for release"