diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
index 7e59960ed6e6..75c211c5b0bc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
@@ -162,7 +162,20 @@ jobs:
         fi
         echo "Branch Name is $BRANCH_NAME"
         echo "BRANCH_NAME=$BRANCH_NAME" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-     
+    # branch name should be either master or release-1.XX
+    - name: Fail if branch name does not match pattern
+      run: |
+        if [[ ! ${{ steps.branch_step.outputs.branch_name }} =~ ^(master|release-[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)$ ]]; then
+          echo "Branch name ${{ steps.branch_step.outputs.branch_name }} does not match pattern"
+          exit 1
+        fi
+    - name: On Failure, Launch Debug Session
+      uses: lhotari/action-upterm@v1
+      if: ${{ failure() }}
+      with:
+        ## If no one connects after 5 minutes, shut down server.
+        wait-timeout-minutes: 5
+
   docker-go:
     needs: [build, build-go-tests]
     name: Docker Tests In GO