diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e714fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+name: tests
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - reopened
+      - synchronize
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        emacs_version:
+          - "29.1"
+          - "30.1"
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      - name: Set up Emacs
+        uses: purcell/setup-emacs@master
+        with:
+          version: ${{ matrix.emacs_version }}
+
+      - name: Install ripgrep
+        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y ripgrep
+
+      - name: Show tool versions
+        run: |
+          emacs --version
+          rg --version
+
+      - name: Run all tests
+        run: emacs --batch -Q --eval "(setq load-prefer-newer t)" -L . -l tests/run-tests.el
diff --git a/grove-core.el b/grove-core.el
index f29b71d..4e1fe35 100644
--- a/grove-core.el
+++ b/grove-core.el
@@ -178,11 +178,21 @@ Returns (:title TITLE :tags TAGS :links LINKS :mtime MTIME)."
           :links (nreverse links)
           :mtime mtime)))
 
+(defun grove--cacheable-note-p (file)
+  "Return non-nil when FILE should be included in the note cache."
+  (let ((name (file-name-nondirectory file)))
+    (and (string-suffix-p ".org" name)
+         (not (string-prefix-p ".#" name))
+         (not (and (string-prefix-p "#" name)
+                   (string-suffix-p "#" name)))
+         (not (string-suffix-p "~" name)))))
+
 (defun grove--refresh-cache ()
   "Refresh the vault cache by scanning `grove-directory'.
 Only re-parses files whose mtime has changed."
   (grove--ensure-directory)
-  (let ((files (directory-files-recursively grove-directory "\\.org\\'"))
+  (let ((files (seq-filter #'grove--cacheable-note-p
+                           (directory-files-recursively grove-directory "\\.org\\'")))
         (seen (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
     ;; Update or add entries
     (dolist (file files)
diff --git a/tests/grove-review-test.el b/tests/grove-review-test.el
index d388225..35da819 100644
--- a/tests/grove-review-test.el
+++ b/tests/grove-review-test.el
@@ -35,6 +35,46 @@
                        '("Project: Alpha")))
       (delete-file file))))
 
+(ert-deftest grove-refresh-cache-ignores-emacs-lockfiles ()
+  (let* ((grove-directory (make-temp-file "grove-vault" t))
+         (note (expand-file-name "test-2.org" grove-directory))
+         (lockfile (expand-file-name ".#test-2.org" grove-directory))
+         (grove--cache (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (with-temp-file note
+            (insert "#+title: Real note\n"))
+          ;; Emacs lockfiles are symlinks whose names can still match the
+          ;; recursive .org scan, they should never be parsed as notes.
+          (make-symbolic-link note lockfile)
+          (delete-file note)
+          (grove--refresh-cache)
+          (should-not (gethash lockfile grove--cache))
+          (should (= (hash-table-count grove--cache) 0)))
+      (delete-directory grove-directory t))))
+
+(ert-deftest grove-refresh-cache-ignores-emacs-autosave-and-backup-files ()
+  (let* ((grove-directory (make-temp-file "grove-vault" t))
+         (autosave (expand-file-name "#draft.org#" grove-directory))
+         (backup (expand-file-name "draft.org~" grove-directory))
+         (note (expand-file-name "draft.org" grove-directory))
+         (grove--cache (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (with-temp-file autosave
+            (insert "#+title: Autosave\n"))
+          (with-temp-file backup
+            (insert "#+title: Backup\n"))
+          (with-temp-file note
+            (insert "#+title: Real draft\n"))
+          (grove--refresh-cache)
+          (should-not (gethash autosave grove--cache))
+          (should-not (gethash backup grove--cache))
+          (should (= (hash-table-count grove--cache) 1))
+          (should (equal (plist-get (gethash note grove--cache) :title)
+                         "Real draft")))
+      (delete-directory grove-directory t))))
+
 (ert-deftest grove-link-fontify-allows-colons-in-note-titles ()
   (with-temp-buffer
     (insert "[[Project: Alpha]] [[https://example.com]]")
diff --git a/tests/run-tests.el b/tests/run-tests.el
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7af3e35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run-tests.el
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+;;; run-tests.el --- Load and run all Grove tests -*- lexical-binding: t -*-
+
+;; Copyright 2026 Guilherme Thomazi Bonicontro
+
+;;; Commentary:
+
+;; Loads every *-test.el file in this directory, then runs the full ERT suite.
+
+;;; Code:
+
+(require 'ert)
+
+(let* ((this-file (or load-file-name buffer-file-name))
+       (tests-directory (file-name-directory this-file)))
+  (dolist (file (directory-files tests-directory t "-test\\.el\\'"))
+    (load file nil 'nomessage)))
+
+(ert-run-tests-batch-and-exit)
+
+;;; run-tests.el ends here