diff --git a/.github/workflows/kata-deploy-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/kata-deploy-test.yaml
index a86b461eb2..febd4fbee7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/kata-deploy-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/kata-deploy-test.yaml
@@ -5,26 +5,12 @@ on:
 name: test-kata-deploy
 
 jobs:
-  check_comments:
-    if: ${{ github.event.issue.pull_request }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Check for Command
-        id: command
-        uses: kata-containers/slash-command-action@v1
-        with:
-          repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          command: "test_kata_deploy"
-          reaction: "true"
-          reaction-type: "eyes"
-          allow-edits: "false"
-          permission-level: admin
-      - name: verify command arg is kata-deploy
-        run: |
-           echo "The command was '${{ steps.command.outputs.command-name }}' with arguments '${{ steps.command.outputs.command-arguments }}'"
-
   create-and-test-container:
-    needs: check_comments
+    if: |
+      github.event.issue.pull_request
+      && github.event_name == 'issue_comment'
+      && github.event.action == 'created'
+      && startsWith(github.event.comment.body, '/test_kata_deploy')
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: get-PR-ref