diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
index 8dd41873..dd199f63 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ on:
     
   pull_request:
     branches: [ "dev" ]
-    paths:
-      - '!**/*.md'
-      - '!dev.notes/**'
-      - '!post_build/**'
-      - '!z_original_repo_files/**'
-      - '!sdk/*.txt'
-      - '!LICENSE'
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**/*.md'
+      - 'dev.notes/**'
+      - 'post_build/**'
+      - 'z_original_repo_files/**'
+      - 'sdk/*.txt'
+      - 'LICENSE'
       # tools
-      - '!tools/generate_emu_config/**'
-      - '!tools/migrate_gse/**'
-      - '!tools/steamclient_loader/linux/**' # these are just shell scripts, not compiled
+      - 'tools/generate_emu_config/**'
+      - 'tools/migrate_gse/**'
+      - 'tools/steamclient_loader/linux/**' # these are just shell scripts, not compiled
     
   workflow_dispatch:
     # allows manual trigger
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-win.yml b/.github/workflows/build-win.yml
index 242cab13..1a4c70de 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-win.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-win.yml
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ on:
     
   pull_request:
     branches: [ "dev" ]
-    paths:
-      - '!**/*.md'
-      - '!dev.notes/**'
-      - '!post_build/**'
-      - '!z_original_repo_files/**'
-      - '!sdk/*.txt'
-      - '!LICENSE'
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**/*.md'
+      - 'dev.notes/**'
+      - 'post_build/**'
+      - 'z_original_repo_files/**'
+      - 'sdk/*.txt'
+      - 'LICENSE'
       # tools
-      - '!tools/generate_emu_config/**'
-      - '!tools/migrate_gse/**'
-      - '!tools/steamclient_loader/linux/**'
+      - 'tools/generate_emu_config/**'
+      - 'tools/migrate_gse/**'
+      - 'tools/steamclient_loader/linux/**'
     
   workflow_dispatch:
     # allows manual trigger