diff --git a/blossom.go b/blossom.go
index 94922f9..41e9ddf 100644
--- a/blossom.go
+++ b/blossom.go
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ if any of the files are not found the command will fail, otherwise it will succe
 					return nil
 				}
 
-				for input := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+				for input := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 					if input == "{}" {
 						continue
 					}
diff --git a/count.go b/count.go
index 482a9e9..b2e84f2 100644
--- a/count.go
+++ b/count.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ var count = &cli.Command{
 		}
 
 		// go line by line from stdin or run once with input from flags
-		for stdinFilter := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for stdinFilter := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			filter := nostr.Filter{}
 			if stdinFilter != "" {
 				if err := easyjson.Unmarshal([]byte(stdinFilter), &filter); err != nil {
diff --git a/encode.go b/encode.go
index ca543d6..c55e28f 100644
--- a/encode.go
+++ b/encode.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func getEncodeSubcommandInput(args cli.Args, allowBlank bool) iter.Seq[string] {
 	}
 
 	return func(yield func(string) bool) {
-		for jsonStr := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for jsonStr := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			if jsonStr == "{}" {
 				if allowBlank {
 					yield("")
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ var encode = &cli.Command{
 		}
 
 		hasStdin := false
-		for jsonStr := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for jsonStr := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			if jsonStr == "{}" {
 				hasStdin = false
 				continue
diff --git a/event.go b/event.go
index c397df3..e3e9e5e 100644
--- a/event.go
+++ b/event.go
@@ -172,6 +172,11 @@ example:
 			Usage:    "ask before publishing the event",
 			Category: CATEGORY_EXTRAS,
 		},
+		&cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:     "github",
+			Usage:    "treat empty stdin as no stdin at all, as GitHub Actions always opens it",
+			Category: CATEGORY_EXTRAS,
+		},
 
 		// hidden
 		&cli.StringFlag{
@@ -442,7 +447,7 @@ example:
 			return publishFlow(ctx, c, kr, evt, relays)
 		}
 
-		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank(c.Bool("github")) {
 			if err := handleEvent(stdinEvent); err != nil {
 				ctx = lineProcessingError(ctx, err.Error())
 			}
diff --git a/filter.go b/filter.go
index 9085dbf..eee6830 100644
--- a/filter.go
+++ b/filter.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ example:
 		}
 
 		// if there is no stdin we'll still get an empty object here
-		for evtj := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for evtj := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			var evt nostr.Event
 			if err := easyjson.Unmarshal([]byte(evtj), &evt); err != nil {
 				ctx = lineProcessingError(ctx, "invalid event: %s", err)
diff --git a/gift.go b/gift.go
index 15cca6d..714e659 100644
--- a/gift.go
+++ b/gift.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ a decoupled key (if it has been created or received with "nak dekey" previously)
 				}
 
 				// read event from stdin
-				for eventJSON := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+				for eventJSON := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 					if eventJSON == "{}" {
 						continue
 					}
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ a decoupled key (if it has been created or received with "nak dekey" previously)
 				}
 
 				// read gift-wrapped event from stdin
-				for wrapJSON := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+				for wrapJSON := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 					if wrapJSON == "{}" {
 						continue
 					}
diff --git a/helpers.go b/helpers.go
index 19ef562..fb2fbbd 100644
--- a/helpers.go
+++ b/helpers.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func isPiped() bool {
 	return is
 }
 
-func getJsonsOrBlank() iter.Seq[string] {
+func getJsonsOrBlank(github bool) iter.Seq[string] {
 	var curr strings.Builder
 
 	var finalJsonErr error
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func getJsonsOrBlank() iter.Seq[string] {
 			return
 		}
 
-		if !hasStdin {
+		if !hasStdin && (!isPiped() || github) {
 			if !yield("{}") {
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/req.go b/req.go
index c52a029..4acfac5 100644
--- a/req.go
+++ b/req.go
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ example:
 		}
 
 		// go line by line from stdin or run once with input from flags
-		for stdinFilter := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for stdinFilter := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			filter := nostr.Filter{}
 			if stdinFilter != "" {
 				if err := easyjson.Unmarshal([]byte(stdinFilter), &filter); err != nil {
diff --git a/spell.go b/spell.go
index 7c94ce0..b4eaa7a 100644
--- a/spell.go
+++ b/spell.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ var spell = &cli.Command{
 
 		if c.Args().Len() == 0 {
 			// check if we have input from stdin
-			for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+			for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 				if stdinEvent == "{}" {
 					break
 				}
diff --git a/validate.go b/validate.go
index 8b966dc..404b34d 100644
--- a/validate.go
+++ b/validate.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ nak event -k 1 -p not_a_pubkey | nak validate
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			if stdinEvent == "{}" && !isPiped() {
 				// blank sentinel from getJsonsOrBlank(), use the arguments instead
 				for _, arg := range c.Args().Slice() {
diff --git a/verify.go b/verify.go
index 27cf2a2..333eb5b 100644
--- a/verify.go
+++ b/verify.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var verify = &cli.Command{
 it outputs nothing if the verification is successful.`,
 	DisableSliceFlagSeparator: true,
 	Action: func(ctx context.Context, c *cli.Command) error {
-		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank() {
+		for stdinEvent := range getJsonsOrBlank(false) {
 			evt := nostr.Event{}
 			if stdinEvent == "{}" && !isPiped() {
 				// blank sentinel from getJsonsOrBlank(), use the argument instead