diff --git a/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
index ec044472..f8402a51 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ on:
         type: string
         default: ''
         required: false
+      python_version:
+        type: string
+        default: ''
+        required: false
   pull_request: # ... a PR is opened / updated
   merge_group:  # ... the PR is added to the merge queue
   push:
@@ -29,9 +33,12 @@ jobs:
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: bash -el {0}
+    env:
+      python_default: '3.11'
+
     steps:
       - name: "External trigger: Checkout pace/develop"
-        if: ${{ inputs.component_trigger }}
+        if: ${{ inputs.component_name }}
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
         with:
           submodules: 'recursive'
@@ -39,10 +46,10 @@ jobs:
           path: pace
           ref: develop
 
-      - name: Setup Python 3.11
+      - name: 'Setup Python ${{ inputs.python_version && inputs.python_version || env.python_default }}'
         uses: actions/setup-python@v6
         with:
-          python-version: '3.11'
+          python-version: ${{ inputs.python_version && inputs.python_version || env.python_default }}
 
       - name: Install mpi (MPICH flavor)
         run: pip install mpich
@@ -55,7 +62,7 @@ jobs:
         run: pip install numpy==1.26.4
 
       - name: "External trigger: Remove existing component in pace/develop"
-        if: ${{ inputs.component_trigger }}
+        if: ${{ inputs.component_name }}
         run: rm -rf ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/pace/${{inputs.component_name}}
 
       - name: Checkout out hash that triggered CI