diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 3ff50c49..dbd8d617 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index d12fb00f..eeea8b4c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index a0d8998e..13be455f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 0a0f91d2..8700eb5e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
       contents: write
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - name: setup Python
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 2e3f761d..f99ecbf9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
         python-version: ['3.11', '3.13']
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
 
diff --git a/developer/check_changelog.py b/developer/check_changelog.py
index ef85045b..051a900c 100755
--- a/developer/check_changelog.py
+++ b/developer/check_changelog.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python3
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 """Check if the CHANGELOG has been modified with respect to the main branch."""
 import os
 
@@ -22,7 +22,21 @@ class ChangelogError(Exception):
     workfile = f.read()
 
 if file.strip() == workfile.strip():
-    raise ChangelogError("You have not updated the CHANGELOG file. Please "
-                         f"add a summary of your additions to {changelog}.")
+    # Check for changed files and ignore .github/ changes
+    head_commit = repo.head.commit
+    diff = head_commit.diff("origin/main")
+    changed_files = []
+    for x in diff:
+        if x.a_blob.path not in changed_files:
+            changed_files.append(x.a_blob.path)
+        if x.b_blob is not None and x.b_blob.path not in changed_files:
+            changed_files.append(x.b_blob.path)
+    changed_files = [x for x in changed_files if not x.startswith(".github/")]
+
+    if len(changed_files) > 0:
+        raise ChangelogError("You have not updated the CHANGELOG file. Please "
+                             f"add a summary of your additions to {changelog}.")
+    else:
+        print("No changes detected.")
 else:
     print("CHANGELOG is up to date.")
diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.rst b/docs/CHANGELOG.rst
index a7b89ead..df6d7f1c 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ Changelog
 Unreleased
 ----------
 
+* Ignore ``.github`` workflows for changelog checks
 * Ignore unrelated warnings from MDAnalysis
-* Added argcomplete for tab completion
-* Updated docs 
+* Added ``argcomplete`` for tab completion
+* Updated docs
 
 v0.1.33 (2025-10-20)
 ------------------------------------------