diff --git a/build-tools/build-infra/src/main/java/org/apache/lucene/gradle/plugins/astgrep/AstGrepPlugin.java b/build-tools/build-infra/src/main/java/org/apache/lucene/gradle/plugins/astgrep/AstGrepPlugin.java
index 315210d0428..3e6a8c1021d 100644
--- a/build-tools/build-infra/src/main/java/org/apache/lucene/gradle/plugins/astgrep/AstGrepPlugin.java
+++ b/build-tools/build-infra/src/main/java/org/apache/lucene/gradle/plugins/astgrep/AstGrepPlugin.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package org.apache.lucene.gradle.plugins.astgrep;
 
 import com.carrotsearch.gradle.buildinfra.buildoptions.BuildOptionsExtension;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import org.gradle.api.GradleException;
 import org.gradle.api.Plugin;
@@ -67,9 +68,15 @@ public void apply(Project project) {
                         optionName);
               }
 
+              var args = new ArrayList<String>();
               // fail on any rule match regardless of severity level
-              task.setArgs(
+              args.addAll(
                   List.of("scan", "-c", "gradle/validation/ast-grep/sgconfig.yml", "--error"));
+              // use the github format when being run as a workflow
+              if (System.getenv("CI") != null && System.getenv("GITHUB_WORKFLOW") != null) {
+                args.addAll(List.of("--format", "github"));
+              }
+              task.setArgs(args);
             });
 
     // Common configuration.