diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 86814df27..bdbc06fbc 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ jobs:
       - checkout-plus
       - run: go mod tidy
       - run: git diff --exit-code -- go.mod go.sum
+  check-changelog-label:
+    executor:
+      name: golang
+    steps:
+      - run: curl https://moleculacorp:$GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN@api.github.com/repos/molecula/pilosa/pulls/$CIRCLE_PR_NUMBER | jq "[.labels[] | .name | startswith(\"changelog\")] | any" -e
   test-build-arm:
     executor:
       name: golang
@@ -178,6 +183,13 @@ workflows:
       - go-mod-tidy:
           requires:
             - setup
+      - check-changelog-label:
+          requires:
+            - setup
+          # the following should make this only run on pull requests
+          filters:
+            branches:
+              only: /^pull\/.*$/
       - test-build-arm:
           requires:
             - setup