diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-checklist.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-checklist.yml
index e0bc2f52..ebe34dac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-checklist.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-checklist.yml
@@ -31,8 +31,16 @@ jobs:
               return;
             }
 
-            const required = [ 'preview_removals.sh', 'data/backups', "i will not run the destructive --force" ];
-            const missing = required.filter(r => !body.toLowerCase().includes(r.toLowerCase()));
+            // Use regex patterns to be robust against checkbox formatting or minor phrasing changes
+            const requiredPatterns = [
+              /preview_removals\.sh/i,
+              /data\/?backups/i,
+              /(i will not run|will not run|do not run|don't run|won't run).+--force/i,
+            ];
+            const missing = requiredPatterns
+              .map(p => ({ pattern: p, found: p.test(body) }))
+              .filter(x => !x.found)
+              .map(x => x.pattern.source);
             if (missing.length > 0) {
               // Post a comment to the PR with instructions for filling the checklist
               const commentBody = `Hi! This PR touches history-rewrite artifacts and requires the checklist in .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/history-rewrite.md. The following items are missing in your PR body: ${missing.join(', ')}\n\nPlease update the PR description using the history-rewrite template and re-run checks.`;