diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index db80e4fd91..4ef595ff01 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 variables:
   CI_DESIGNATED_BRANCH: prpl/nightly
   CI_DESIGNATED_BRANCH_SLUG: prpl-nightly
-  CRAM_COMPONENTS: prplos
 
 include:
   - local: .gitlab/build.yml
diff --git a/.gitlab/testbed.yml b/.gitlab/testbed.yml
index 4eedee498f..68ab3bc49f 100644
--- a/.gitlab/testbed.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/testbed.yml
@@ -228,6 +228,8 @@
     - if: '$COMPONENT == "prplmesh" && $CRAM_COMPONENTS =~ /(^|,)prplmesh($|,)/'
     - if: '$COMPONENT == "lcm" && $CRAM_COMPONENTS =~ /(^|,)lcm($|,)/'
     - if: '$COMPONENT == "prplos" && $CRAM_COMPONENTS =~ /(^|,)prplos($|,)/'
+    - when: manual
+      allow_failure: true
   variables:
     COMPONENT: prplos
   script:
@@ -249,7 +251,8 @@ lint cram component manifest:
   rules:
     - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"'
       when: never
-    - when: on_success
+    - when: manual
+      allow_failure: true
   script:
     - |
       export GIT_CONFIG_COUNT=1
diff --git a/.gitlab/tests/cram/README.md b/.gitlab/tests/cram/README.md
index c6455a5848..0f61e15890 100644
--- a/.gitlab/tests/cram/README.md
+++ b/.gitlab/tests/cram/README.md
@@ -69,9 +69,17 @@ module. Executable scripts follow the repository's hyphenated CLI convention.
 
 ## Selecting pipeline jobs
 
-Set the pipeline-level `CRAM_COMPONENTS` variable to a comma-separated list
-containing one or more of `full`, `prplmesh`, `lcm`, and `prplos`. Do not add
-spaces around the commas. The default is `prplos`.
+Non-scheduled pipelines create every component job and the non-DUT
+`lint cram component manifest` job as manual jobs and start none of them.
+Play the lint at any time, or play the wanted bucket jobs once the board's
+build test job has finished. Manually started jobs never gate the pipeline
+result.
+
+To start buckets automatically, set the pipeline-level `CRAM_COMPONENTS`
+variable to a comma-separated list containing one or more of `full`,
+`prplmesh`, `lcm`, and `prplos`. Do not add spaces around the commas. Listed
+buckets start as soon as their board's build succeeds and keep the board's
+existing blocking behavior. The variable is unset by default.
 
 For example:
 
@@ -81,12 +89,12 @@ CRAM_COMPONENTS=lcm,prplos
 CRAM_COMPONENTS=full
 ```
 
-Release tag pipelines (`prplware-v*`) start the `full` jobs automatically.
-Scheduled pipelines never create cram jobs, because they also never create
-the build jobs these jobs need. Other pipeline sources run the jobs named by
-the list. The job names have the form
-`cram <Board> [<component>]`, such as `cram OSPv2 [lcm]`. The trailing
-component name lets GitLab group the four jobs for a board in the pipeline UI.
+Release tag pipelines (`prplware-v*`) start the `full` jobs automatically;
+the other buckets stay manual there. Scheduled pipelines never create cram
+jobs, because they also never create the build jobs these jobs need. The job
+names have the form `cram <Board> [<component>]`, such as `cram OSPv2 [lcm]`.
+The trailing component name lets GitLab group the four jobs for a board in
+the pipeline UI.
 
 ## Resolving tests locally
 
@@ -127,6 +135,7 @@ the two baseline options are mutually exclusive. The lint still succeeds when
 a newly added test enters the `prplos` remainder, but prints a warning so the
 assignment can be reviewed.
 
-Merge request pipelines pass the diff base to this lint automatically. Other
-pipeline types run the same manifest checks without a comparison baseline;
-scheduled pipelines skip the job.
+The lint is a manual, non-gating play button in every non-scheduled pipeline.
+When played in a merge request pipeline, it still receives the diff base
+automatically. Other pipeline types run the same manifest checks without a
+comparison baseline; scheduled pipelines skip the job.