diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-single.yml b/.github/workflows/test-single.yml
index f60e2990e680..8b28b63c3a55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-single.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-single.yml
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ jobs:
               matrix: windows
             configuration:
               name: core.full_node
+          # TODO: skipping macos-15-intel timelord cases until fixed
+          #       https://github.com/Chia-Network/chiavdf/pull/268
+          - os:
+              matrix: macos-intel
+            configuration:
+              install_timelord: true
           - python:
               exclude_from:
                 ${{ inputs.matrix_mode }}: True
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 829eac8879f7..5a3f41dd7931 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ on:
         type: boolean
       run-macos-intel:
         description: "run macOS-intel tests"
-        default: false
+        default: true
         required: false
         type: boolean
       run-macos-arm:
@@ -109,24 +109,12 @@ jobs:
             || 'main'
           }} >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
-      - name: Generate mac intel configuration
-        id: macintel
-        run: |
-          echo mac_intel=${{
-            ( github.event_name == 'schedule' || inputs.run-macos-intel )
-            || ( github.repository_owner == 'Chia-Network' && github.repository == 'Chia-Network/chia-blockchain' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/') )
-            || ( github.repository_owner == 'Chia-Network' && github.repository == 'Chia-Network/chia-blockchain' && startsWith(github.base_ref, 'release/') )
-            && 'true'
-            || 'false'
-          }} >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
     outputs:
       configuration: ${{ steps.configure.outputs.configuration }}
       matrix_mode: ${{ steps.configure.outputs.matrix_mode }}
-      mac_intel: ${{ steps.macintel.outputs.mac_intel }}
 
   macos-intel:
-    if: needs.configure.outputs.mac_intel == 'true'
+    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' || inputs.run-macos-intel
     uses: ./.github/workflows/test-single.yml
     needs: configure
     with:
@@ -137,7 +125,7 @@ jobs:
       concurrency-name: macos-intel
       configuration: ${{ needs.configure.outputs.configuration }}
       matrix_mode: ${{ needs.configure.outputs.matrix_mode }}
-      runs-on: ${{ github.repository_owner == 'Chia-Network' && 'macos-13-intel' || 'macos-13' }}
+      runs-on: macos-15-intel
       arch: intel
       arch-emoji: 🌀
   macos-arm:
@@ -235,7 +223,6 @@ jobs:
       - uses: re-actors/alls-green@release/v1.2
         id: alls-green
         with:
-          allowed-skips: ${{ needs.configure.outputs.mac_intel != 'true' && 'macos-intel' || '' }}
           jobs: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
 
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5