diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml b/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
index ccf4be8eb5..2a56cdf103 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-dry-run.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   build_release_candidate:
     name: Build Immutable Release Candidate
-    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' }}
+    if: ${{ inputs.version != '' }}
     permissions:
       contents: read
     uses: ./.github/workflows/build-release-candidate.yml
diff --git a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
index e0f1522e44..14e7612e5e 100644
--- a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
+++ b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/deployment-installability.md
@@ -330,6 +330,10 @@ TLS floor in the dynamic config.
    of downloading the complete release packet again. Historical repair and
    release-edit validation may use the full-download fallback because those
    paths do not have a same-run candidate manifest.
+   A manually dispatched release rehearsal must activate the same signed
+   candidate build whenever its required `version` input is non-empty.
+   Scheduled watchdog rehearsals omit that input and must skip candidate
+   signing while retaining the non-publish policy and integration checks.
    Release-facing agent-paradigm blurbs under `docs/releases/` must describe
    `pulse-mcp` as a generic MCP adapter for MCP-speaking clients, not a
    client-specific release artifact, and full-surface token guidance must come
diff --git a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
index b465cb2e94..ae18d73170 100644
--- a/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
+++ b/scripts/release_control/release_promotion_policy_test.py
@@ -484,6 +484,9 @@ class ReleasePromotionPolicyTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("rc-to-ga-promotion-readiness-rehearsal-<record-date>.md", template)
         self.assertIn(promotion_metadata_envelope(), normalize_ws(template))
         self.assertIn("rc-to-ga-rehearsal-summary", workflow)
+        self.assertIn("build_release_candidate:", workflow)
+        self.assertIn("if: ${{ inputs.version != '' }}", workflow)
+        self.assertNotIn("if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' }}", workflow)
         self.assertIn("record_rc_to_ga_rehearsal.py --run-id ${{ github.run_id }}", workflow)
         self.assertIn("rc-to-ga-promotion-readiness-rehearsal-<record-date>.md", workflow)
         self.assertIn("control_plane.py --branch-for-version", workflow)