diff --git a/.github/workflows/api.yml b/.github/workflows/api.yml
index 9d850080a65..dd3fbdaa927 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ on:
     paths:
     - 'keyboards/**'
     - 'layouts/community/**'
+    - 'lib/python/**'
+    - 'data/**'
+    - '.github/workflows/api.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml b/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
index ebc1b545b78..194305e7301 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ on:
     paths:
     - 'keyboards/**'
     - 'layouts/community/**'
+    - 'lib/python/**'
+    - 'data/**'
+    - '.github/workflows/develop_api.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
index 0596b3f22b5..8d8ca3cd41a 100755
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
@@ -12,21 +12,30 @@ from qmk.json_encoders import InfoJSONEncoder
 from qmk.json_schema import json_load
 from qmk.keyboard import find_readme, list_keyboards
 
-TEMPLATE_PATH = Path('data/templates/api/')
+DATA_PATH = Path('data')
+TEMPLATE_PATH = DATA_PATH / 'templates/api/'
 BUILD_API_PATH = Path('.build/api_data/')
 
 
+def _filtered_keyboard_list():
+    """Perform basic filtering of list_keyboards
+    """
+    keyboard_list = list_keyboards()
+    if cli.args.filter:
+        kb_list = []
+        for keyboard_name in keyboard_list:
+            if any(i in keyboard_name for i in cli.args.filter):
+                kb_list.append(keyboard_name)
+        keyboard_list = kb_list
+    return keyboard_list
+
+
 @cli.argument('-n', '--dry-run', arg_only=True, action='store_true', help="Don't write the data to disk.")
 @cli.argument('-f', '--filter', arg_only=True, action='append', default=[], help="Filter the list of keyboards based on partial name matches the supplied value. May be passed multiple times.")
-@cli.subcommand('Creates a new keymap for the keyboard of your choosing', hidden=False if cli.config.user.developer else True)
+@cli.subcommand('Generate QMK API data', hidden=False if cli.config.user.developer else True)
 def generate_api(cli):
     """Generates the QMK API data.
     """
-    if BUILD_API_PATH.exists():
-        shutil.rmtree(BUILD_API_PATH)
-
-    shutil.copytree(TEMPLATE_PATH, BUILD_API_PATH)
-
     v1_dir = BUILD_API_PATH / 'v1'
     keyboard_all_file = v1_dir / 'keyboards.json'  # A massive JSON containing everything
     keyboard_list_file = v1_dir / 'keyboard_list.json'  # A simple list of keyboard targets
@@ -34,14 +43,14 @@ def generate_api(cli):
     keyboard_metadata_file = v1_dir / 'keyboard_metadata.json'  # All the data configurator/via needs for initialization
     usb_file = v1_dir / 'usb.json'  # A mapping of USB VID/PID -> keyboard target
 
+    if BUILD_API_PATH.exists():
+        shutil.rmtree(BUILD_API_PATH)
+
+    shutil.copytree(TEMPLATE_PATH, BUILD_API_PATH)
+    shutil.copytree(DATA_PATH, v1_dir)
+
     # Filter down when required
-    keyboard_list = list_keyboards()
-    if cli.args.filter:
-        kb_list = []
-        for keyboard_name in keyboard_list:
-            if any(i in keyboard_name for i in cli.args.filter):
-                kb_list.append(keyboard_name)
-        keyboard_list = kb_list
+    keyboard_list = _filtered_keyboard_list()
 
     kb_all = {}
     usb_list = {}