diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 3f08955b..2f972e17 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -36,8 +36,63 @@ on:
     - cron: '25 14 * * 4'
 
 jobs:
+  detect:
+    name: Detect Changed Files
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      python_changed: ${{ steps.detect_python.outputs.python_changed }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      
+      - name: Detect Python file changes
+        id: detect_python
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          echo "Detecting Python file changes..."
+          
+          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request" ]; then
+            echo "Pull request event detected"
+            BASE_REF="${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}"
+            HEAD_REF="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}"
+            echo "Comparing $BASE_REF...$HEAD_REF"
+            CHANGED_FILES=$(git diff --name-only "$BASE_REF" "$HEAD_REF")
+          elif [ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "push" ]; then
+            echo "Push event detected"
+            BEFORE_SHA="${{ github.event.before }}"
+            AFTER_SHA="${{ github.sha }}"
+            
+            # Handle initial commit case
+            if [ "$BEFORE_SHA" == "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" ]; then
+              echo "Initial commit detected, checking all files"
+              CHANGED_FILES=$(git ls-files)
+            else
+              echo "Comparing $BEFORE_SHA...$AFTER_SHA"
+              CHANGED_FILES=$(git diff --name-only "$BEFORE_SHA" "$AFTER_SHA")
+            fi
+          else
+            echo "Schedule or other event type - checking for any Python files in repository"
+            CHANGED_FILES=$(git ls-files)
+          fi
+          
+          echo "Changed files:"
+          echo "$CHANGED_FILES"
+          
+          if echo "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -q "\.py$"; then
+            echo "Python files detected in changes"
+            echo "python_changed=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "No Python files detected in changes"
+            echo "python_changed=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
+
   analyze:
     name: Analyze (${{ matrix.language }})
+    needs: detect
+    # Skip Python analysis if no Python files were changed
+    if: matrix.language != 'python' || needs.detect.outputs.python_changed == 'true'
     # Runner size impacts CodeQL analysis time. To learn more, please see:
     #   - https://gh.io/recommended-hardware-resources-for-running-codeql
     #   - https://gh.io/supported-runners-and-hardware-resources