diff --git a/.github/workflows/needs-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/needs-docs.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 628b5cc5e3..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/needs-docs.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-name: Needs Docs
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types: [labeled, unlabeled]
-
-jobs:
-  check:
-    name: Check
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Check for needs-docs label
-        uses: actions/github-script@v7.0.1
-        with:
-          script: |
-            const { data: labels } = await github.rest.issues.listLabelsOnIssue({
-              owner: context.repo.owner,
-              repo: context.repo.repo,
-              issue_number: context.issue.number
-            });
-            const needsDocs = labels.find(label => label.name === 'needs-docs');
-            if (needsDocs) {
-              core.setFailed('Pull request needs docs');
-            }
diff --git a/.github/workflows/status-check-labels.yml b/.github/workflows/status-check-labels.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..157f60f3a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/status-check-labels.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+name: Status check labels
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [labeled, unlabeled]
+
+jobs:
+  check:
+    name: Check ${{ matrix.label }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        label:
+          - needs-docs
+          - merge-after-release
+    steps:
+      - name: Check for ${{ matrix.label }} label
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7.0.1
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const { data: labels } = await github.rest.issues.listLabelsOnIssue({
+              owner: context.repo.owner,
+              repo: context.repo.repo,
+              issue_number: context.issue.number
+            });
+            const hasLabel = labels.find(label => label.name === '${{ matrix.label }}');
+            if (hasLabel) {
+              core.setFailed('Pull request cannot be merged, it is labeled as ${{ matrix.label }}');
+            }