diff --git a/.github/workflows/model_registry_test.yaml b/.github/workflows/model_registry_test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a58302357e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/model_registry_test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# If anyone changes or improve the following tests for Model Registry, please 
+# consider reflecting the same changes on https://github.com/kubeflow/model-registry
+name: Deploy and test Kubeflow Model Registry
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - apps/model-registry/upstream/**
+      - tests/gh-actions/kind-cluster.yaml
+      - tests/gh-actions/install_istio.sh
+
+jobs:
+  build-kfmr:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - name: Checkout
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+    - name: Install KinD
+      run: ./tests/gh-actions/install_kind.sh
+
+    - name: Create KinD Cluster
+      run: kind create cluster --config tests/gh-actions/kind-cluster.yaml
+
+    - name: Install kustomize
+      run: ./tests/gh-actions/install_kustomize.sh
+
+    - name: Install Istio
+      run: ./tests/gh-actions/install_istio.sh
+
+    - name: Create kubeflow namespace
+      run: kustomize build common/kubeflow-namespace/base | kubectl apply -f -
+
+    - name: Build & Apply KF Model Registry manifests
+      run: |
+        kustomize build apps/model-registry/upstream/overlays/db | kubectl apply -f -
+        kustomize build apps/model-registry/upstream/options/istio | kubectl apply -f -
+
+    - name: Test KF Model Registry deployment
+      run: |
+        echo "Waiting for all Model Registry Pods to become ready..."
+        kubectl wait --for=condition=available -n kubeflow deployment/model-registry-db --timeout=600s
+        kubectl wait --for=condition=available -n kubeflow deployment/model-registry-deployment --timeout=600s
diff --git a/hack/sync-model-registry-manifests.sh b/hack/sync-model-registry-manifests.sh
index 6c76595d3c..255f75f353 100755
--- a/hack/sync-model-registry-manifests.sh
+++ b/hack/sync-model-registry-manifests.sh
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
 #
 # Afterwards the developers can submit the PR to the kubeflow/manifests
 # repo, based on that local branch
+# It must be executed directly from its directory
 
 # strict mode http://redsymbol.net/articles/unofficial-bash-strict-mode/
-set -euo pipefail
+set -euxo pipefail
 IFS=$'\n\t'
 
+COMMIT="v0.2.0-alpha" # You can use tags as well
 DEV_MODE=${DEV_MODE:=false}
 SRC_DIR=${SRC_DIR:=/tmp/kubeflow-model-registry}
 BRANCH=${BRANCH:=sync-kubeflow-model-registry-manifests-${COMMIT?}}
@@ -21,43 +23,47 @@ BRANCH=${BRANCH:=sync-kubeflow-model-registry-manifests-${COMMIT?}}
 SCRIPT_DIR=$( cd -- "$( dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" &> /dev/null && pwd )
 MANIFESTS_DIR=$(dirname $SCRIPT_DIR)
 
-if [ "$DEV_MODE" != "false" ]; then
-    echo "WARNING: Dev mode enabled..."
-fi
-
 echo "Creating branch: ${BRANCH}"
 
-# DEV: Comment out this if you are testing locally
 if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
-  # Uncommitted changes
-  echo "WARNING: You have uncommitted changes, exiting..."
-  exit 1
+  echo "WARNING: You have uncommitted changes"
 fi
 
 if [ `git branch --list $BRANCH` ]
 then
-   echo "WARNING: Branch $BRANCH already exists. Exiting..."
-   exit 1
+   echo "WARNING: Branch $BRANCH already exists."
 fi
 
-# DEV: If you are testing locally set DEV_MODE=true to skip this step
-if [ "$DEV_MODE" = "false" ]; then
+# Create the branch in the manifests repository
+if ! git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/$BRANCH; then
     git checkout -b $BRANCH
+else
+    echo "Branch $BRANCH already exists."
 fi
-
 echo "Checking out in $SRC_DIR to $COMMIT..."
+
+# Checkout the Model Registry repository
+mkdir -p $SRC_DIR
 cd $SRC_DIR
+if [ ! -d "model-registry/.git" ]; then
+    git clone https://github.com/kubeflow/katib.git
+fi
+cd $SRC_DIR/model-registry
+if ! git rev-parse --verify --quiet $COMMIT; then
+    git checkout -b $COMMIT
+else
+    git checkout $COMMIT
+fi
+
 if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
-  # Uncommitted changes
-  echo "WARNING: You have uncommitted changes, exiting..."
-  exit 1
+  echo "WARNING: You have uncommitted changes"
 fi
-git checkout $COMMIT
 
 echo "Copying model-registry manifests..."
 DST_DIR=$MANIFESTS_DIR/apps/model-registry/upstream
-rm -rf $DST_DIR
-mkdir -p $DST_DIR
+if [ -d "$DST_DIR" ]; then
+    rm -r "$DST_DIR"
+fi
 cp $SRC_DIR/manifests/kustomize/* $DST_DIR -r
 
 echo "Successfully copied all manifests."
@@ -68,11 +74,8 @@ DST_TXT="\[$COMMIT\](https://github.com/kubeflow/model-registry/tree/$COMMIT/man
 
 sed -i "s|$SRC_TXT|$DST_TXT|g" ${MANIFESTS_DIR}/README.md
 
-# DEV: If you are testing locally set DEV_MODE=true to skip this step
-if [ "$DEV_MODE" = "false" ]; then
-    echo "Committing the changes..."
-    cd $MANIFESTS_DIR
-    git add apps
-    git add README.md
-    git commit -s -m "Update kubeflow/model-registry manifests from ${COMMIT}"
-fi
\ No newline at end of file
+echo "Committing the changes..."
+cd $MANIFESTS_DIR
+git add apps
+git add README.md
+git commit -s -m "Update kubeflow/model-registry manifests from ${COMMIT}"