diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
index db25036c06..6611a869f9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ name: "benchmark"
 on:
   # Run using manual triggers from GitHub UI:
   # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/managing-workflow-runs/manually-running-a-workflow
-  workflow_dispatch: {}
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      dryRun:
+        description: "Attempt a local run and report results here, without updating the bencher dashboard."
+        type: "boolean"
+        required: true
+        default: true
 
   # Run on pushes to 'main' branch:
   push:
@@ -48,7 +54,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: "infra perf benchmark"
         uses: "./.github/actions/devcontainer/run"
         with:
-          runCmd: "./scripts/bin/infra perf benchmark"
+          runCmd: "./scripts/bin/infra perf benchmark ${{ inputs.dryRun == true && '--dry-run' || '' }}"
           env: |
             BENCHER_API_TOKEN=${{ secrets.BENCHER_API_TOKEN }}
 
diff --git a/crates/infra/cli/src/utils.rs b/crates/infra/cli/src/utils.rs
index e308537429..b50638c094 100644
--- a/crates/infra/cli/src/utils.rs
+++ b/crates/infra/cli/src/utils.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl<T: ValueEnum> ClapExtensions for T {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Parser)]
 pub struct DryRun {
-    /// Attempt a dry run, instead of actually executing the command.
+    /// Attempt a local run and report results, without publishing any user-facing artifacts.
     #[arg(long)]
     dry_run: bool,
 }