diff --git a/.github/workflows/load-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/load-tests.yml
index 6c19491c97931..9317c414782a2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/load-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/load-tests.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   schedule:
     - cron: "27 0,12 * * *" # Run at 00:27 and 12:27 UTC every day.
+  pull_request:
+    types: [ opened, synchronize, reopened, labeled, unlabeled ]
+    branches:
+      - main
 
 # Do not cancel this workflow on main. See https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/pull/16616
 concurrency:
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
   setup-environment:
     timeout-minutes: 30
     runs-on: oracle-bare-metal-64cpu-1024gb-x86-64-ubuntu-24
-    if: ${{ github.actor != 'dependabot[bot]' &&  github.repository_owner == 'open-telemetry' }}
+    if: ${{ github.actor != 'dependabot[bot]' &&  github.repository_owner == 'open-telemetry' && (contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'Run Load Tests') || github.event_name == 'push' || github.event_name == 'schedule' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch') }}
     outputs:
       loadtest_matrix: ${{ steps.splitloadtest.outputs.loadtest_matrix }}
     steps: