diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate_pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/validate_pr.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..03fcd43a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate_pr.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+name: Validate PR
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+
+jobs:
+  validate-pr:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    steps:
+      - name: Check master
+        if: ${{github.base_ref == 'master' && github.ref_name != 'develop'}}
+        run: echo You must not merge directly to master. Instead merge to 'develop' first. && exit 1
diff --git a/doc/changes/changes_9.0.0.md b/doc/changes/changes_9.0.0.md
index 707754cd..60a41188 100644
--- a/doc/changes/changes_9.0.0.md
+++ b/doc/changes/changes_9.0.0.md
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ This release uses version 1.0.0 of the container tool.
   - #1002: Use ECR fallback repository for Trivy caching
   - #958: Fix conda version conflict
   - #1014: Fixed Push Docker Test Container workflow
+  - #1017: Implemented a GH workflow which validates correct target branch of PR
 
 ## Doc