diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto-merge-speakeasy-pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/auto-merge-speakeasy-pr.yaml
index af67cfe9..9ba77ed5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/auto-merge-speakeasy-pr.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/auto-merge-speakeasy-pr.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ name: Auto-merge Speakeasy PR
 
 on:
   pull_request:
-    types: [labeled]
+    types: [labeled, opened]
 
 permissions:
   contents: write
@@ -22,7 +22,13 @@ jobs:
       github.event.pull_request.user.login == 'github-actions[bot]' &&
       startsWith(github.event.pull_request.head.ref, 'speakeasy-sdk-regen-') &&
       contains(github.event.pull_request.title, '🐝 Update SDK') &&
-      contains(fromJSON('["patch", "minor", "major"]'), github.event.label.name)
+      (
+        (github.event.action == 'labeled' && contains(fromJSON('["patch", "minor", "major"]'), github.event.label.name)) ||
+        (github.event.action == 'opened' && 
+         (contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'patch') || 
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'minor') || 
+          contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'major')))
+      )
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Close superseded Speakeasy PRs