diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..802c1a24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    ruins-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/action.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f70f275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/bad-directory/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+name: 'Forgejo release download and upload'
+author: 'Forgejo authors'
+description: |
+  Upload or download the assets of a release to a Forgejo instance.
+inputs:
+  badinput: scalarinsteadofmap
+  url:
+    description: 'URL of the Forgejo instance'
+    default: '${{ env.FORGEJO_SERVER_URL }}'
+  repo:
+    description: 'owner/project relative to the URL'
+    default: '${{ forge.repository }}'
+  tag:
+    description: 'Tag of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.ref_name }}'
+  title:
+    description: 'Title of the release (defaults to tag)'
+  sha:
+    description: 'SHA of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.sha }}'
+  token:
+    description: 'Forgejo application token'
+    default: '${{ forge.token }}'
+  release-dir:
+    description: 'Directory in whichs release assets are uploaded or downloaded'
+    required: true
+  release-notes:
+    description: 'Release notes'
+  direction:
+    description: 'Can either be `download` or `upload`'
+    required: true
+  gpg-private-key:
+    description: 'GPG Private Key to sign the release artifacts'
+  gpg-passphrase:
+    description: 'Passphrase of the GPG Private Key'
+  download-retry:
+    description: 'Number of times to retry if the release is not ready (default 1)'
+  download-latest:
+    description: 'Download the latest release'
+    default: false
+  verbose:
+    description: 'Increase the verbosity level'
+    default: false
+  override:
+    description: 'Override an existing release by the same `{tag}`'
+    default: false
+  prerelease:
+    description: 'Mark Release as Pre-Release'
+    default: false
+  release-notes-assistant:
+    description: 'Generate release notes with Release Notes Assistant'
+    default: false
+  hide-archive-link:
+    description: 'Hide the archive links'
+    default: false
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - if: ${{ inputs.release-notes-assistant }}
+      uses: https://data.forgejo.org/actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        key: rna-${{ inputs.repo }}
+        path: ${{ forge.action_path }}/rna
+
+    - run: echo "${{ forge.action_path }}" >> $FORGEJO_PATH
+      shell: bash
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/action.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efdc13fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efdc13fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow2.yaml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..efdc13fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.forgejo/workflows/workflow2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.gitea/workflows/bad.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.gitea/workflows/bad.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..802c1a24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.gitea/workflows/bad.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    ruins-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.github/workflows/bad.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.github/workflows/bad.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..802c1a24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/.github/workflows/bad.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+on: [push]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    ruins-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - run: echo All good!
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/action.yml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb66d230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+name: 'Forgejo release download and upload'
+author: 'Forgejo authors'
+description: |
+  Upload or download the assets of a release to a Forgejo instance.
+inputs:
+  url:
+    description: 'URL of the Forgejo instance'
+    default: '${{ env.FORGEJO_SERVER_URL }}'
+  repo:
+    description: 'owner/project relative to the URL'
+    default: '${{ forge.repository }}'
+  tag:
+    description: 'Tag of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.ref_name }}'
+  title:
+    description: 'Title of the release (defaults to tag)'
+  sha:
+    description: 'SHA of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.sha }}'
+  token:
+    description: 'Forgejo application token'
+    default: '${{ forge.token }}'
+  release-dir:
+    description: 'Directory in whichs release assets are uploaded or downloaded'
+    required: true
+  release-notes:
+    description: 'Release notes'
+  direction:
+    description: 'Can either be `download` or `upload`'
+    required: true
+  gpg-private-key:
+    description: 'GPG Private Key to sign the release artifacts'
+  gpg-passphrase:
+    description: 'Passphrase of the GPG Private Key'
+  download-retry:
+    description: 'Number of times to retry if the release is not ready (default 1)'
+  download-latest:
+    description: 'Download the latest release'
+    default: false
+  verbose:
+    description: 'Increase the verbosity level'
+    default: false
+  override:
+    description: 'Override an existing release by the same `{tag}`'
+    default: false
+  prerelease:
+    description: 'Mark Release as Pre-Release'
+    default: false
+  release-notes-assistant:
+    description: 'Generate release notes with Release Notes Assistant'
+    default: false
+  hide-archive-link:
+    description: 'Hide the archive links'
+    default: false
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - if: ${{ inputs.release-notes-assistant }}
+      uses: https://data.forgejo.org/actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        key: rna-${{ inputs.repo }}
+        path: ${{ forge.action_path }}/rna
+
+    - run: echo "${{ forge.action_path }}" >> $FORGEJO_PATH
+      shell: bash
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/subaction/action.yaml b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/subaction/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb66d230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/good-directory/subaction/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+name: 'Forgejo release download and upload'
+author: 'Forgejo authors'
+description: |
+  Upload or download the assets of a release to a Forgejo instance.
+inputs:
+  url:
+    description: 'URL of the Forgejo instance'
+    default: '${{ env.FORGEJO_SERVER_URL }}'
+  repo:
+    description: 'owner/project relative to the URL'
+    default: '${{ forge.repository }}'
+  tag:
+    description: 'Tag of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.ref_name }}'
+  title:
+    description: 'Title of the release (defaults to tag)'
+  sha:
+    description: 'SHA of the release'
+    default: '${{ forge.sha }}'
+  token:
+    description: 'Forgejo application token'
+    default: '${{ forge.token }}'
+  release-dir:
+    description: 'Directory in whichs release assets are uploaded or downloaded'
+    required: true
+  release-notes:
+    description: 'Release notes'
+  direction:
+    description: 'Can either be `download` or `upload`'
+    required: true
+  gpg-private-key:
+    description: 'GPG Private Key to sign the release artifacts'
+  gpg-passphrase:
+    description: 'Passphrase of the GPG Private Key'
+  download-retry:
+    description: 'Number of times to retry if the release is not ready (default 1)'
+  download-latest:
+    description: 'Download the latest release'
+    default: false
+  verbose:
+    description: 'Increase the verbosity level'
+    default: false
+  override:
+    description: 'Override an existing release by the same `{tag}`'
+    default: false
+  prerelease:
+    description: 'Mark Release as Pre-Release'
+    default: false
+  release-notes-assistant:
+    description: 'Generate release notes with Release Notes Assistant'
+    default: false
+  hide-archive-link:
+    description: 'Hide the archive links'
+    default: false
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - if: ${{ inputs.release-notes-assistant }}
+      uses: https://data.forgejo.org/actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        key: rna-${{ inputs.repo }}
+        path: ${{ forge.action_path }}/rna
+
+    - run: echo "${{ forge.action_path }}" >> $FORGEJO_PATH
+      shell: bash
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/make-repositories.sh b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/make-repositories.sh
index 6f3918ee..0047cb4c 100755
--- a/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/make-repositories.sh
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/testdata/validate/make-repositories.sh
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ git clone --bare $tmpdir/good good-repository
 rm -fr good-repository/hooks
 touch good-repository/refs/placeholder
 
+rm -fr good-directory
+git clone $tmpdir/good good-directory
+rm -fr good-directory/.git
+
 # bad
 
 mkdir $tmpdir/bad
@@ -54,3 +58,7 @@ rm -fr bad-repository
 git clone --bare $tmpdir/bad bad-repository
 rm -fr bad-repository/hooks
 touch bad-repository/refs/placeholder
+
+rm -fr bad-directory
+git clone $tmpdir/bad bad-directory
+rm -fr bad-directory/.git
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/validate.go b/internal/app/cmd/validate.go
index ca5ab732..474ff56f 100644
--- a/internal/app/cmd/validate.go
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/validate.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type validateArgs struct {
 	path       string
 	repository string
 	clonedir   string
+	directory  string
 	workflow   bool
 	action     bool
 }
@@ -145,8 +146,16 @@ func validateRepository(validateArgs *validateArgs) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func processDirectory(validateArgs *validateArgs) {
+	if len(validateArgs.directory) > 0 {
+		validateArgs.repository = validateArgs.directory
+		validateArgs.clonedir = validateArgs.directory
+	}
+}
+
 func runValidate(_ context.Context, validateArgs *validateArgs) func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	return func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+		processDirectory(validateArgs)
 		if len(validateArgs.path) > 0 {
 			return validatePath(validateArgs)
 		} else if len(validateArgs.repository) > 0 {
@@ -168,9 +177,15 @@ Validate workflows or actions with a schema verifying they are conformant.
 The --path argument is a filename that will be validated as a workflow
 (if the --workflow flag is set) or as an action (if the --action flag is set).
 
-The --repository argument is a URL to a Git repository. It will be
-cloned (in the --clonedir directory or a temporary location removed
-when the validation completes). The following files will be validated:
+The --repository argument is a URL to a Git repository that contains
+workflows or actions. It will be cloned (in the --clonedir directory
+or a temporary location removed when the validation completes).
+
+The --directory argument is the path a repository to be explored for
+files to validate.
+
+The following files will be validated when exploring the clone of a repository
+(--repository) or a directory (--directory):
 
 - All .forgejo/workflows/*.{yml,yaml} files as workflows
 - All **/action.{yml,yaml} files as actions
@@ -185,9 +200,11 @@ when the validation completes). The following files will be validated:
 
 	validateCmd.Flags().StringVar(&validateArgs.clonedir, "clonedir", "", "directory in which the repository will be cloned")
 	validateCmd.Flags().StringVar(&validateArgs.repository, "repository", "", "URL to a repository to validate")
+	validateCmd.Flags().StringVar(&validateArgs.directory, "directory", "", "directory to a repository to validate")
 	validateCmd.Flags().StringVar(&validateArgs.path, "path", "", "path to the file")
-	validateCmd.MarkFlagsOneRequired("repository", "path")
-	validateCmd.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("repository", "path")
+	validateCmd.MarkFlagsOneRequired("repository", "path", "directory")
+	validateCmd.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("repository", "path", "directory")
+	validateCmd.MarkFlagsMutuallyExclusive("directory", "clonedir")
 
 	return validateCmd
 }
diff --git a/internal/app/cmd/validate_test.go b/internal/app/cmd/validate_test.go
index 7442d1d2..8a7c6c71 100644
--- a/internal/app/cmd/validate_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/cmd/validate_test.go
@@ -27,10 +27,20 @@ func Test_validateCmd(t *testing.T) {
 			message: "one of --workflow or --action must be set",
 		},
 		{
-			name:    "MutuallyExclusive",
+			name:    "MutuallyExclusiveActionWorkflow",
 			args:    []string{"--action", "--workflow", "--path", "/tmp"},
 			message: "[action workflow] were all set",
 		},
+		{
+			name:    "MutuallyExclusiveRepositoryDirectory",
+			args:    []string{"--repository", "example.com", "--directory", "."},
+			message: "[directory repository] were all set",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "MutuallyExclusiveClonedirDirectory",
+			args:    []string{"--clonedir", ".", "--directory", "."},
+			message: "[clonedir directory] were all set",
+		},
 		{
 			name:   "PathActionOK",
 			args:   []string{"--action", "--path", "testdata/validate/good-action.yml"},
@@ -51,6 +61,21 @@ func Test_validateCmd(t *testing.T) {
 			args:   []string{"--workflow", "--path", "testdata/validate/bad-workflow.yml"},
 			stdOut: "Unknown Property ruins-on",
 		},
+		{
+			name:   "DirectoryOK",
+			args:   []string{"--directory", "testdata/validate/good-directory"},
+			stdOut: "action.yml action schema validation OK\nsubaction/action.yaml action schema validation OK\n.forgejo/workflows/action.yml workflow schema validation OK\n.forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml workflow schema validation OK\n.forgejo/workflows/workflow2.yaml workflow schema validation OK",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "DirectoryActionNOK",
+			args:   []string{"--directory", "testdata/validate/bad-directory"},
+			stdOut: "action.yml action schema validation failed",
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "DirectoryWorkflowNOK",
+			args:   []string{"--directory", "testdata/validate/bad-directory"},
+			stdOut: ".forgejo/workflows/workflow1.yml workflow schema validation failed",
+		},
 		{
 			name:   "RepositoryOK",
 			args:   []string{"--repository", "testdata/validate/good-repository"},