checkly · thebiglabasky · Jul 9, 2026 · Jul 9, 2026
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -57,17 +57,19 @@ with:
     production,backend
 ```
 
-When `github-report` is enabled, the action asks Checkly whether the Checkly
-GitHub App is connected to the repository and can report GitHub Checks. If it is,
-the action runs the CLI with `--detach`, passes GitHub Actions metadata to the
-CLI, and Checkly posts a GitHub Check that updates when the session finishes.
-
-If GitHub Check reporting is unavailable, the action runs without `--detach` and
-waits for the test session to finish so the GitHub Actions job reports the
-result. It also uses the CLI GitHub reporter and writes the Checkly summary to
-the GitHub Actions step summary. Install the
-[Checkly GitHub App](https://github.com/apps/checkly) on the repository to run
-detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check instead.
+The `reporting` input controls where the Checkly result is reported:
+
+- `auto` (default): use a detached run with GitHub Check reporting when the
+  Checkly GitHub App can report on the repository. Otherwise, wait in the
+  GitHub Actions job and report there.
+- `github-check`: require detached GitHub Check reporting. The action fails
+  before running checks if the Checkly GitHub App cannot report on the
+  repository.
+- `github-actions`: always wait in the GitHub Actions job and report through the
+  CLI GitHub reporter and step summary.
+
+Install the [Checkly GitHub App](https://github.com/apps/checkly) on the
+repository to use detached GitHub Check reporting.
 
 For `deployment_status` workflows, the action exposes
 `github.event.deployment_status.environment_url` as `ENVIRONMENT_URL` when that
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ target URL explicitly through `env` or the workflow `env` block.
 | Input | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `command` | `test` for local constructs or `trigger` for deployed checks. Defaults to `test`. |
-| `cli-version` | Checkly CLI npm version. Defaults to `latest`. GitHub Check writeback needs `8.12.0` or newer; older pinned versions fall back to waiting in the Action. Dist-tags, canaries, and prereleases are assumed compatible. |
+| `cli-version` | Checkly CLI npm version. Defaults to `latest`. GitHub Check reporting needs `8.12.0` or newer. Dist-tags, canaries, and prereleases are assumed compatible. |
 | `working-directory` | Directory where the CLI command should run. Defaults to `.`. |
 | `install-command` | Optional command to run before the Checkly CLI command, inside `working-directory`. |
 | `tags` | One `--tags` filter per line. Each line can contain comma-separated tags. |
@@ -99,14 +101,14 @@ target URL explicitly through `env` or the workflow `env` block.
 | `verify-runtime-dependencies` | `test` only. Set to `false` to pass `--no-verify-runtime-dependencies`. |
 | `fail-on-no-matching` | `trigger` only. Set to `false` to pass `--no-fail-on-no-matching`. |
 | `verbose` | Set to `true` or `false` to pass `--verbose` or `--no-verbose`. |
-| `github-report` | Use detached Checkly runs with GitHub Check writeback when the Checkly GitHub App is connected. Falls back to waiting in the Action when unavailable. Defaults to `true`. |
+| `reporting` | Where to report the Checkly result: `auto`, `github-check`, or `github-actions`. Defaults to `auto`. |
 
 ## Outputs
 
 | Output | Description |
 | --- | --- |
-| `test-session-id` | Detached Checkly test session ID, when detected from CLI output. |
-| `test-session-url` | Detached Checkly test session URL, when detected from CLI output. |
+| `test-session-id` | Checkly test session ID, when detected from CLI output. |
+| `test-session-url` | Checkly test session URL, when detected from CLI output. |
 
 ## Local test
 

diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ inputs:
     required: false
     default: test
   cli-version:
-    description: Checkly CLI npm version to run. GitHub Check writeback needs 8.12.0 or newer; older pinned versions fall back to waiting in the Action.
+    description: Checkly CLI npm version to run. GitHub Check reporting needs 8.12.0 or newer.
     required: false
     default: latest
   working-directory:
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ inputs:
     description: Name to use when storing results as a Checkly test session.
     required: false
   timeout:
-    description: Timeout in seconds to wait for checks to complete. Mostly useful when detach is disabled in future versions.
+    description: Timeout in seconds to wait for checks to complete. Mostly useful when reporting through GitHub Actions.
     required: false
   retries:
     description: Number of times to retry a failing run.
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ inputs:
   verbose:
     description: Set to true or false to pass --verbose or --no-verbose.
     required: false
-  github-report:
-    description: Use detached Checkly runs with GitHub Check writeback when the Checkly GitHub App is connected. Falls back to waiting in the Action when unavailable.
+  reporting:
+    description: Where to report the Checkly result. Use "auto", "github-check", or "github-actions".
     required: false
-    default: "true"
+    default: auto
 
 outputs:
   test-session-id:
@@ -116,4 +116,4 @@ runs:
         INPUT_VERIFY_RUNTIME_DEPENDENCIES: ${{ inputs.verify-runtime-dependencies }}
         INPUT_FAIL_ON_NO_MATCHING: ${{ inputs.fail-on-no-matching }}
         INPUT_VERBOSE: ${{ inputs.verbose }}
-        INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT: ${{ inputs.github-report }}
+        INPUT_REPORTING: ${{ inputs.reporting }}
diff --git a/scripts/run.sh b/scripts/run.sh
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ command_name="$(trim "${INPUT_COMMAND:-test}")"
 cli_version="$(trim "${INPUT_CLI_VERSION:-latest}")"
 working_directory="$(trim "${INPUT_WORKING_DIRECTORY:-.}")"
 install_command="$(trim "${INPUT_INSTALL_COMMAND:-}")"
+reporting="$(trim "${INPUT_REPORTING:-auto}")"
 
 case "$command_name" in
   test|trigger) ;;
@@ -361,6 +362,14 @@ case "$command_name" in
     ;;
 esac
 
+case "$reporting" in
+  auto|github-check|github-actions) ;;
+  *)
+    echo "::error::Unsupported reporting '${reporting}'. Expected 'auto', 'github-check', or 'github-actions'." >&2
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
 if [[ "$command_name" == "trigger" && -n "$(trim "${INPUT_GREP:-}")" ]]; then
   echo "::error::Input 'grep' is only supported with command=test." >&2
   exit 1
@@ -399,23 +408,24 @@ github_sha="$(resolve_github_sha)"
 configure_generic_repo_env "$github_repository" "$github_sha"
 configure_deployment_environment_url
 
-github_report_requested=false
+github_check_requested=false
 github_report_available=false
 github_report_reason="disabled"
 detach_run=false
 github_reporter_run=true
 
-if falsey "${INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT:-true}"; then
+if [[ "$reporting" == "github-actions" ]]; then
   clear_github_report_env
-elif truthy "${INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT:-true}"; then
-  github_report_requested=true
+else
+  github_check_requested=true
   if ! cli_version_supports_github_report "$cli_version"; then
-    # Writeback needs CLI >= 8.12.0, but an older pinned CLI is not an error:
-    # fall back to the non-detached mode like any other unavailable reason.
     github_report_reason="cli_version_too_old"
     clear_github_report_env
-    if [[ "${GITHUB_ACTIONS:-}" == "true" ]]; then
-      echo "::warning::GitHub Check writeback needs Checkly CLI 8.12.0 or newer (cli-version is '${cli_version}'). Running without --detach so this GitHub Actions job waits for the Checkly test session result. Use cli-version: latest or >= 8.12.0 to enable detached GitHub Check reporting."
+    if [[ "$reporting" == "github-check" ]]; then
+      echo "::error::GitHub Check reporting needs Checkly CLI 8.12.0 or newer (cli-version is '${cli_version}'). Use cli-version: latest or >= 8.12.0, or set reporting: github-actions to wait for the result in this workflow." >&2
+      exit 1
+    elif [[ "${GITHUB_ACTIONS:-}" == "true" ]]; then
+      echo "::warning::GitHub Check reporting needs Checkly CLI 8.12.0 or newer (cli-version is '${cli_version}'). Reporting through GitHub Actions instead. Use cli-version: latest or >= 8.12.0 to enable detached GitHub Check reporting."
     fi
   else
     configure_github_report "$github_repository" "$github_sha"
@@ -427,14 +437,14 @@ elif truthy "${INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT:-true}"; then
       github_reporter_run=false
     else
       clear_github_report_env
-      if [[ "${GITHUB_ACTIONS:-}" == "true" ]]; then
-        echo "::warning::Checkly GitHub App reporting is unavailable (${github_report_reason}). Running without --detach so this GitHub Actions job waits for the Checkly test session result. Install the Checkly GitHub App on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check instead: ${CHECKLY_GITHUB_APP_URL}"
+      if [[ "$reporting" == "github-check" ]]; then
+        echo "::error::Checkly GitHub Check reporting is unavailable (${github_report_reason}). Install the Checkly GitHub App on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check: ${CHECKLY_GITHUB_APP_URL}" >&2
+        exit 1
+      elif [[ "${GITHUB_ACTIONS:-}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "::warning::Checkly GitHub Check reporting is unavailable (${github_report_reason}). Reporting through GitHub Actions instead, so this job waits for the Checkly test session result. Install the Checkly GitHub App on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check: ${CHECKLY_GITHUB_APP_URL}"
       fi
     fi
   fi
-else
-  echo "::error::Expected boolean input for github-report, got '${INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT}'." >&2
-  exit 1
 fi
 
 checkly_command=(npx --yes "checkly@${cli_version}" "$command_name")
@@ -476,16 +486,18 @@ if [[ "${CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN:-}" == "1" || "${CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN:-}" == "
   printf 'Command: '
   printf '%q ' "${checkly_command[@]}"
   printf '\n'
-  if [[ "$github_report_requested" == "true" && "$github_report_available" == "true" ]]; then
-    printf 'GitHub report: detached writeback enabled'
+  if [[ "$reporting" == "github-actions" ]]; then
+    printf 'Reporting: GitHub Actions\n'
+  elif [[ "$github_check_requested" == "true" && "$github_report_available" == "true" ]]; then
+    printf 'Reporting: GitHub Check'
     if [[ -n "${CHECKLY_GITHUB_REPOSITORY:-}" && -n "${CHECKLY_GITHUB_SHA:-}" ]]; then
       printf ' for %s@%s' "$CHECKLY_GITHUB_REPOSITORY" "$CHECKLY_GITHUB_SHA"
     fi
     printf '\n'
-  elif [[ "$github_report_requested" == "true" ]]; then
-    printf 'GitHub report: unavailable (%s), waiting for CLI result\n' "$github_report_reason"
+  elif [[ "$github_check_requested" == "true" ]]; then
+    printf 'Reporting: GitHub Actions (GitHub Check unavailable: %s)\n' "$github_report_reason"
   else
-    printf 'GitHub report: disabled\n'
+    printf 'Reporting: GitHub Actions\n'
   fi
   exit 0
 fi
@@ -533,12 +545,12 @@ if [[ -z "$test_session_id" && -z "$test_session_url" ]]; then
   append_summary "- The Checkly CLI did not print a detached test session reference."
 fi
 
-if [[ "$github_report_requested" == "true" && "$github_report_available" == "true" ]]; then
+if [[ "$github_check_requested" == "true" && "$github_report_available" == "true" ]]; then
   append_summary ""
   append_summary "GitHub Check reporting is enabled for this run."
-elif [[ "$github_report_requested" == "true" ]]; then
+elif [[ "$github_check_requested" == "true" ]]; then
   append_summary ""
-  append_summary "GitHub Check reporting was unavailable (${github_report_reason}). This job waited for the Checkly run to finish. [Install the Checkly GitHub App](${CHECKLY_GITHUB_APP_URL}) on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check."
+  append_summary "GitHub Check reporting was unavailable (${github_report_reason}). This job reported through GitHub Actions and waited for the Checkly run to finish. [Install the Checkly GitHub App](${CHECKLY_GITHUB_APP_URL}) on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check."
 fi
 
 rm -f "$output_file"

diff --git a/scripts/test.sh b/scripts/test.sh
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ assert_contains "$test_command_output" "--tags production\\,webapp --tags produc
 assert_contains "$test_command_output" "--grep checkout"
 assert_contains "$test_command_output" "--update-snapshots"
 assert_contains "$test_command_output" "checks/\\*\\*/\\*.check.ts smoke.check.ts"
-assert_contains "$test_command_output" "GitHub report: detached writeback enabled"
+assert_contains "$test_command_output" "Reporting: GitHub Check"
 
 trigger_command_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=trigger \
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ assert_contains "$trigger_command_output" "--tags production"
 assert_contains "$trigger_command_output" "--check-id abc\\,def"
 assert_contains "$trigger_command_output" "--no-fail-on-no-matching"
 
+assert_fails_with "Unsupported command 'deploy'" env \
+  INPUT_COMMAND=deploy \
+  CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN=1 \
+  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/run.sh"
+
 fallback_command_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
   INPUT_CLI_VERSION=8.12.0 \
@@ -82,33 +87,46 @@ fallback_command_output="$(
 )"
 
 assert_contains "$fallback_command_output" "checkly@8.12.0 test --reporter=github"
-assert_contains "$fallback_command_output" "GitHub report: unavailable (github_app_not_connected), waiting for CLI result"
-assert_contains "$fallback_command_output" "Install the Checkly GitHub App on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check instead: https://github.com/apps/checkly"
+assert_contains "$fallback_command_output" "Reporting: GitHub Actions (GitHub Check unavailable: github_app_not_connected)"
+assert_contains "$fallback_command_output" "Install the Checkly GitHub App on this repository to run detached and receive a Checkly GitHub Check: https://github.com/apps/checkly"
 
 # An old pinned CLI must fall back (skipping the preflight entirely), not fail
 # the job: CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_AVAILABLE=true would force the detached
 # path if the preflight were still consulted.
 old_cli_fallback_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
   INPUT_CLI_VERSION=8.11.9 \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=true \
   CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_AVAILABLE=true \
   run_dry
 )"
 
 assert_contains "$old_cli_fallback_output" "checkly@8.11.9 test --reporter=github"
-assert_contains "$old_cli_fallback_output" "GitHub report: unavailable (cli_version_too_old), waiting for CLI result"
+assert_contains "$old_cli_fallback_output" "Reporting: GitHub Actions (GitHub Check unavailable: cli_version_too_old)"
+
+assert_fails_with "Unsupported reporting 'banana'" env \
+  INPUT_COMMAND=test \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=banana \
+  CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN=1 \
+  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/run.sh"
 
-assert_fails_with "Expected boolean input for github-report" env \
+assert_fails_with "GitHub Check reporting needs Checkly CLI 8.12.0 or newer" env \
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=banana \
+  INPUT_CLI_VERSION=8.11.9 \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=github-check \
+  CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN=1 \
+  "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/run.sh"
+
+assert_fails_with "Checkly GitHub Check reporting is unavailable (github_app_not_connected)" env \
+  INPUT_COMMAND=test \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=github-check \
+  CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_AVAILABLE=false \
+  CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_REASON=github_app_not_connected \
   CHECKLY_ACTION_DRY_RUN=1 \
   "$ROOT_DIR/scripts/run.sh"
 
 prerelease_version_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
   INPUT_CLI_VERSION=0.0.0-canary.58c867e \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=true \
   CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_AVAILABLE=true \
   run_dry
 )"
@@ -132,7 +150,7 @@ JSON
 
 github_report_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=true \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=github-check \
   CHECKLY_ACTION_GITHUB_REPORT_AVAILABLE=true \
   GITHUB_REPOSITORY=checkly/playwright-reporter-demo \
   GITHUB_SHA=merge123def456 \
@@ -150,12 +168,12 @@ github_report_output="$(
   run_dry
 )"
 
-assert_contains "$github_report_output" "GitHub report: detached writeback enabled for checkly/playwright-reporter-demo@head123def456"
+assert_contains "$github_report_output" "Reporting: GitHub Check for checkly/playwright-reporter-demo@head123def456"
 
-github_report_disabled_output="$(
+github_actions_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
   INPUT_CLI_VERSION=8.11.9 \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=false \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=github-actions \
   CHECKLY_GITHUB_REPORT=true \
   CHECKLY_GITHUB_REPOSITORY=spoofed/repository \
   CHECKLY_GITHUB_SHA=spoofed-sha \
@@ -164,8 +182,8 @@ github_report_disabled_output="$(
   run_dry
 )"
 
-assert_contains "$github_report_disabled_output" "GitHub report: disabled"
-assert_contains "$github_report_disabled_output" "checkly@8.11.9 test --reporter=github"
+assert_contains "$github_actions_output" "Reporting: GitHub Actions"
+assert_contains "$github_actions_output" "checkly@8.11.9 test --reporter=github"
 
 deployment_event_path="$(mktemp)"
 trap 'rm -f "$github_event_path" "$deployment_event_path"' EXIT
@@ -179,7 +197,7 @@ JSON
 
 deployment_url_output="$(
   INPUT_COMMAND=test \
-  INPUT_GITHUB_REPORT=false \
+  INPUT_REPORTING=github-actions \
   GITHUB_EVENT_NAME=deployment_status \
   GITHUB_EVENT_PATH="$deployment_event_path" \
   run_dry