diff --git a/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/README.md b/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/README.md
index c667538..02c4676 100644
--- a/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/README.md
+++ b/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ This action queries the GitHub GraphQL API for `closingIssuesReferences` on a
 pull request. It detects issues linked by:
 
 - Body keywords: `Fixes #123`, `Closes #456`, `Resolves owner/repo#789`
-- Manual linking via the GitHub UI sidebar
+- Manual linking via the GitHub UI
 
 If no linked issues are found, the step fails with a message guiding the author
 to link one.
@@ -78,20 +78,12 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Check for linked issue
         uses: ./.workflows/.github/actions/check-linked-issue
+        with:
+          minimumLinkedIssues: 2  # Require at least 2 linked issues (optional, default is 1)
 
       # ... additional steps in the same job
 ```
 
-### Use the composite action within the workflows repo
-
-When referencing the action from a workflow in this same repository, use a
-relative path without a checkout step:
-
-```yaml
-steps:
-  - uses: ./.github/actions/check-linked-issue
-```
-
 ## Reference
 
 ### Permissions
@@ -101,16 +93,19 @@ Requires the default `GITHUB_TOKEN` with:
 ```yaml
 permissions:
   contents: read
+  issues: read
   pull-requests: read
 ```
 
-For private repos, these permissions allow the token to read PR metadata and
-query linked issues. Cross-repo issue detection is limited to public repos and
-repos within the same organization that the token has access to.
-
 ### Inputs
 
-This action has no inputs.
+- `minimumLinkedIssues` (optional): Minimum number of linked issues required for the PR. Default is `1`. Set this input to require more than one linked issue:
+
+```yaml
+with:
+  minimumLinkedIssues: 2
+```
+
 
 ### Outputs
 
diff --git a/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/action.yml b/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/action.yml
index 7e7d9a5..c2b7351 100644
--- a/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/check-linked-issue/action.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ description: >
   closingIssuesReferences. Covers 'Fixes #123', 'Closes owner/repo#456',
   and issues linked manually through the GitHub UI.
 
+inputs:
+  minimumLinkedIssues:
+    description: Minimum number of linked issues required
+    required: false
+    default: 1
+
 runs:
   using: composite
   steps:
@@ -14,6 +20,7 @@ runs:
         script: |
           const prNumber = context.payload.pull_request.number;
           const { owner, repo } = context.repo;
+          const minimumLinkedIssues = parseInt(core.getInput('minimumLinkedIssues')) || 1;
 
           const query = `
             query($owner: String!, $repo: String!, $number: Int!) {
@@ -41,15 +48,18 @@ runs:
           const issues =
             result.repository.pullRequest.closingIssuesReferences.nodes;
 
-          if (!issues || issues.length === 0) {
+          core.debug(`${JSON.stringify(result, null, 2)}`);
+
+          if (!issues || issues.length < minimumLinkedIssues) {
             core.setFailed(
-              "This PR does not reference any linked issues. " +
+              `❌ This PR does not reference enough linked issues (found ${issues.length}, required ${minimumLinkedIssues})!\n` +
               "Please link an issue using 'Fixes #123', " +
               "'Closes OvertureMaps/other-repo#123', or the GitHub UI " +
-              "(https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/using-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue)"
+              "(https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/using-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue)\n" +
+              "After adding a linked issue, you may need to manually re-run this check from the Checks tab to update the status."
             );
           } else {
-            core.info("Linked issues found:");
+            core.info(`✅ ${issues.length} linked issues found out of ${minimumLinkedIssues} required:`);
             issues.forEach(issue => {
               core.info(`  #${issue.number} - ${issue.title} (${issue.state}) ${issue.url}`);
             });
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-issue.yml b/.github/workflows/check-issue.yml
index 6d42dbb..a353720 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-issue.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-issue.yml
@@ -29,12 +29,13 @@ on:
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
+  issues: read
   pull-requests: read
 
 jobs:
   check-linked-issue:
     name: Check Linked Issue
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-slim
     steps:
       - name: Checkout workflows repo
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint-python.yml b/.github/workflows/lint-python.yml
index 2968e9c..cfc66d8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint-python.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint-python.yml
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: string
         default: "error"
-  pull_request:
-    types:
-      - opened
-      - reopened
-      - synchronize
 
 permissions:
   contents: read