diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/pr-validation.yml b/.gitea/workflows/pr-validation.yml
index 48ad237..3347900 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/pr-validation.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/pr-validation.yml
@@ -151,20 +151,33 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Upload coverage badge
         id: badge
-        if: ${{ always() && hashFiles('coverage.out') != '' }}
+        if: ${{ always() && steps.coverage.outcome == 'success' }}
         uses: https://git.hrafn.xyz/aether/vociferate/coverage-badge@v1.1.0
         with:
           artefact-bucket-name: ${{ vars.ARTEFACT_BUCKET_NAME }}
           artefact-bucket-endpoint: ${{ vars.ARTEFACT_BUCKET_ENDPONT }}
 
+      - name: Validate changelog gate
+        if: ${{ always() }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if ! awk '
+            /^## \[Unreleased\]/ { in_unreleased=1; next }
+            /^## \[/ && in_unreleased { exit 0 }
+            in_unreleased && /^- / { found=1 }
+            END { exit found ? 0 : 1 }
+          ' CHANGELOG.md; then
+            echo "Missing changelog entry under [Unreleased]." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
       - name: Decorate PR
         if: ${{ always() }}
         uses: https://git.hrafn.xyz/aether/vociferate/decorate-pr@v1.1.0
         with:
           coverage-percentage: ${{ steps.badge.outputs.total }}
           badge-url: ${{ steps.badge.outputs.badge-url }}
-          enable-changelog-gate: 'true'
-          changelog-gate-mode: strict
+          enable-changelog-gate: 'false'
 
       - name: Add coverage summary
         run: |