diff --git a/.copier-answers.yml b/.copier-answers.yml
index 0374019c..cc008633 100644
--- a/.copier-answers.yml
+++ b/.copier-answers.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Changes here will be overwritten by Copier
-_commit: v0.0.39
+_commit: v0.0.40
 _src_path: gh:LabAutomationAndScreening/copier-base-template.git
 description: Copier template for creating Python libraries and executables
 python_ci_versions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
index 68da3da2..4a6e7f3f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Dependabot Post-Update
 permissions:
-  contents: write        # grant write access so we can push commits
+  contents: write  # so the commit can be pushed
+  actions: write   # so createWorkflowDispatch can be invoked
 on:
   pull_request:
     types: [opened, synchronize]
@@ -33,8 +34,25 @@ jobs:
           # only commit if there are changes
           if ! git diff --quiet; then
             git add .
-            git commit -m "chore: apply post-Dependabot script changes"
+            git commit -m "chore: apply post-Dependabot script changes [dependabot skip]"
             git push origin HEAD:${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
           else
             echo "No changes to commit"
           fi
+
+      - name: Dispatch CI on PR branch # pushes done by GITHUB_TOKEN don't trigger workflows, so we have to restart the CI job manually, see https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/triggering-a-workflow#triggering-a-workflow-from-a-workflow
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7.0.1
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          script: |
+            const run = context.payload.workflow_run;
+            const pr = run.pull_requests[0];
+            if (!pr) {
+              throw new Error("No pull request linked to this workflow_run event; aborting dispatch.");
+            }
+            await github.actions.createWorkflowDispatch({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              workflow_id: "ci.yaml",
+              ref: run.head_branch,
+            });
diff --git a/extensions/context.py b/extensions/context.py
index 7623a061..f0186b7c 100644
--- a/extensions/context.py
+++ b/extensions/context.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ def hook(self, context: dict[Any, Any]) -> dict[Any, Any]:
         context["gha_cache"] = "v4.2.2"
         context["gha_upload_artifact"] = "v4.6.2"
         context["gha_download_artifact"] = "v4.2.1"
+        context["gha_github_script"] = "v7.0.1"
         context["gha_setup_buildx"] = "v3.10.0"
         context["buildx_version"] = "v0.22.0"
         context["gha_docker_build_push"] = "v6.15.0"
diff --git a/template/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml b/template/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
index 68da3da2..4a6e7f3f 100644
--- a/template/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
+++ b/template/.github/workflows/dependabot-post-update.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Dependabot Post-Update
 permissions:
-  contents: write        # grant write access so we can push commits
+  contents: write  # so the commit can be pushed
+  actions: write   # so createWorkflowDispatch can be invoked
 on:
   pull_request:
     types: [opened, synchronize]
@@ -33,8 +34,25 @@ jobs:
           # only commit if there are changes
           if ! git diff --quiet; then
             git add .
-            git commit -m "chore: apply post-Dependabot script changes"
+            git commit -m "chore: apply post-Dependabot script changes [dependabot skip]"
             git push origin HEAD:${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
           else
             echo "No changes to commit"
           fi
+
+      - name: Dispatch CI on PR branch # pushes done by GITHUB_TOKEN don't trigger workflows, so we have to restart the CI job manually, see https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/triggering-a-workflow#triggering-a-workflow-from-a-workflow
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7.0.1
+        with:
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          script: |
+            const run = context.payload.workflow_run;
+            const pr = run.pull_requests[0];
+            if (!pr) {
+              throw new Error("No pull request linked to this workflow_run event; aborting dispatch.");
+            }
+            await github.actions.createWorkflowDispatch({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              workflow_id: "ci.yaml",
+              ref: run.head_branch,
+            });