diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index e1b2ae63..2b2b0ead 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ updates:
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
+    cooldown:
+      default-days: 7
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
     groups:
       actions:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
index 104ce5b9..27560dab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
   pull_request:
+    # edited: check the PR title again after it is changed
+    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, edited]
     branches: [main]
 
 permissions: {}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 7b224df2..a1bfaf1b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ name: Release
 
 on:
   release:
-    branches: [main]
     types: [released]
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/self-test.yml b/.github/workflows/self-test.yml
index 6ffeee1e..c3a6130e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/self-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/self-test.yml
@@ -73,12 +73,17 @@ jobs:
           extra-args: -std=c++14 -Wall
 
       - name: Fail fast?!
-        # if: steps.linter.outputs.checks-failed > 0
+        # if: ${{ !contains(fromJSON('["0", ""]'), steps.linter.outputs.checks-failed) }}
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          CHECKS_FAILED: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.checks-failed }}
+          TIDY_CHECKS_FAILED: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-tidy-checks-failed }}
+          FORMAT_CHECKS_FAILED: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-format-checks-failed }}
         run: |
           echo "some linter checks failed"
-          echo "total checks-failed: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.checks-failed }}"
-          echo "clang-tidy checks-failed: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-tidy-checks-failed }}"
-          echo "clang-format checks-failed: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-format-checks-failed }}"
+          echo "total checks-failed: $CHECKS_FAILED"
+          echo "clang-tidy checks-failed: $TIDY_CHECKS_FAILED"
+          echo "clang-format checks-failed: $FORMAT_CHECKS_FAILED"
         # for actual deployment
         # run: exit 1
 
@@ -127,6 +132,8 @@ jobs:
           step-summary: false
 
       - name: Assert auto-fix committed the formatting changes
+        env:
+          FORMAT_CHECKS_FAILED: ${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-format-checks-failed }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-          failed='${{ steps.linter.outputs.clang-format-checks-failed }}'
+          failed="$FORMAT_CHECKS_FAILED"
           if [ "${failed:-0}" != "0" ]; then
             echo "::error title=auto-fix::clang-format still reports $failed issue(s) after auto-fix"
             exit 1