diff --git a/spec/api-review-state.spec.ts b/spec/api-review-state.spec.ts
index 3505a77..a5efc1b 100644
--- a/spec/api-review-state.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/api-review-state.spec.ts
@@ -869,6 +869,7 @@ describe('api review', () => {
         return true;
       })
       .reply(200);
+
     nock('https://api.github.com')
       .get(
         `/repos/electron/electron/commits/${payload.pull_request.head.sha}/check-runs?per_page=100`,
@@ -882,7 +883,88 @@ describe('api review', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it('correctly update api review check and api review label when pr is unlabeled', async () => {
+  it('adds the API requested label if a PR is marked ready for review', async () => {
+    const payload = loadFixture('api-review-state/pull_request.ready_for_review.json');
+    const { pull_request } = payload;
+
+    nock('https://api.github.com')
+      .get(`/repos/electron/electron/issues/${payload.number}/labels?per_page=100&page=1`)
+      .reply(200, [
+        {
+          id: 1034512799,
+          node_id: 'MDU6TGFiZWwxMDM0NTEyNzk5',
+          url: 'https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/semver/minor',
+          name: 'semver/minor',
+          color: '6ac2dd',
+          default: false,
+          description: 'backwards-compatible bug fixes',
+        },
+      ]);
+
+    nock('https://api.github.com')
+      .post(`/repos/electron/electron/issues/${pull_request.number}/labels`, (body) => {
+        expect(body).toEqual([REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED]);
+        return true;
+      })
+      .reply(200);
+
+    await robot.receive({
+      id: '123-456',
+      name: 'pull_request',
+      payload,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('removes the API requested label if a PR is put in draft mode', async () => {
+    const payload = loadFixture('api-review-state/pull_request.converted_to_draft.json');
+    const { pull_request } = payload;
+
+    nock('https://api.github.com')
+      .get(`/repos/electron/electron/issues/${payload.number}/labels?per_page=100&page=1`)
+      .reply(200, [
+        {
+          id: 1034512799,
+          node_id: 'MDU6TGFiZWwxMDM0NTEyNzk5',
+          url: 'https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/semver/minor',
+          name: 'semver/minor',
+          color: '6ac2dd',
+          default: false,
+          description: 'backwards-compatible bug fixes',
+        },
+        {
+          id: 1603621692,
+          node_id: 'MDU6TGFiZWwxNjAzNjIxNjky',
+          url: 'https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/api-review/requested%20%F0%9F%97%B3',
+          name: REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED,
+          color: 'c918ba',
+          default: false,
+          description: '',
+        },
+      ]);
+
+    const encoded = encodeURIComponent(REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED);
+    nock('https://api.github.com')
+      .delete(`/repos/electron/electron/issues/${pull_request.number}/labels/${encoded}`)
+      .reply(200, [
+        {
+          id: 208045946,
+          node_id: 'MDU6TGFiZWwyMDgwNDU5NDY=',
+          url: `https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/${encoded}`,
+          name: REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED,
+          description: '',
+          color: 'f29513',
+          default: true,
+        },
+      ]);
+
+    await robot.receive({
+      id: '123-456',
+      name: 'pull_request',
+      payload,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('correctly updates API review check and API review label when pr is unlabeled', async () => {
     const payload = loadFixture('api-review-state/pull_request.unlabeled.json');
 
     nock('https://api.github.com')
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.converted_to_draft.json b/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.converted_to_draft.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fea71b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.converted_to_draft.json
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+{
+  "action": "converted_to_draft",
+  "number": 26876,
+  "pull_request": {
+    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/pulls/26876",
+    "id": 534054584,
+    "node_id": "MDExOlB1bGxSZXF1ZXN0NTM0MDU0NTg0",
+    "html_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876",
+    "diff_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876.diff",
+    "patch_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876.patch",
+    "issue_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/issues/26876",
+    "number": 26876,
+    "state": "open",
+    "locked": false,
+    "draft": true,
+    "title": "chore: fix JS linting",
+    "user": {
+      "login": "MarshallOfSound",
+      "id": 6634592,
+      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjY2MzQ1OTI=",
+      "avatar_url": "https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/6634592?v=4",
+      "gravatar_id": "",
+      "url": "https://api.github.com/users/MarshallOfSound"
+    },
+    "body": "* Ensure --fix output is actually written to disk\r\n* Cache bust on lint.js file changes\r\n* Ensure CI does not use the linting cache\r\n\r\nNotes: no-notes",
+    "created_at": "2020-12-08T01:24:55Z",
+    "updated_at": "2020-12-08T01:24:55Z",
+    "closed_at": null,
+    "merged_at": null,
+    "merge_commit_sha": null,
+    "assignee": null,
+    "labels": [
+      {
+        "id": 1034512799,
+        "node_id": "MDU6TGFiZWwxMDM0NTEyNzk5",
+        "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/semver/major",
+        "name": "semver/minor",
+        "color": "6ac2dd",
+        "default": false,
+        "description": "backwards-compatible bug fixes"
+      },
+      {
+        "id": 1603621692,
+        "node_id": "MDU6TGFiZWwxNjAzNjIxNjky",
+        "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/api-review/requested%20%F0%9F%97%B3",
+        "name": "api-review/requested 🗳",
+        "color": "c918ba",
+        "default": false,
+        "description": ""
+      }
+    ],
+    "head": {
+      "label": "electron:fix-lint-js",
+      "ref": "fix-lint-js",
+      "sha": "c6b1b7168ab850a47f856c4a30f7a441bede1117",
+      "user": {
+        "login": "electron",
+        "id": 13409222
+      },
+      "repo": {
+        "id": 9384267,
+        "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+        "name": "electron",
+        "full_name": "electron/electron",
+        "private": false,
+        "owner": {
+          "login": "electron",
+          "id": 13409222
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "base": {
+      "label": "electron:main",
+      "ref": "main",
+      "sha": "c41b8d536b2d886abbe739374c0a46f99242a894",
+      "user": {
+        "login": "electron",
+        "id": 13409222,
+        "node_id": "MDEyOk9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbjEzNDA5MjIy",
+        "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/13409222?v=4",
+        "gravatar_id": "",
+        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron",
+        "html_url": "https://github.com/electron",
+        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/followers",
+        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/following{/other_user}",
+        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/gists{/gist_id}",
+        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
+        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/subscriptions",
+        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/orgs",
+        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/repos",
+        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/events{/privacy}",
+        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/received_events",
+        "type": "Organization",
+        "site_admin": false
+      },
+      "repo": {
+        "id": 9384267,
+        "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+        "name": "electron",
+        "full_name": "electron/electron",
+        "default_branch": "main",
+        "private": false,
+        "owner": {
+          "login": "electron",
+          "id": 13409222,
+          "node_id": "MDEyOk9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbjEzNDA5MjIy",
+          "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/13409222?v=4",
+          "gravatar_id": "",
+          "url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron",
+          "html_url": "https://github.com/electron",
+          "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/followers",
+          "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/following{/other_user}",
+          "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/gists{/gist_id}",
+          "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
+          "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/subscriptions",
+          "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/orgs",
+          "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/repos",
+          "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/events{/privacy}",
+          "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/received_events",
+          "type": "Organization",
+          "site_admin": false
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "repository": {
+    "id": 9384267,
+    "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+    "name": "electron",
+    "full_name": "electron/electron",
+    "private": false,
+    "owner": {
+      "login": "electron",
+      "id": 13409222
+    },
+    "license": {
+      "key": "mit",
+      "name": "MIT License",
+      "spdx_id": "MIT",
+      "url": "https://api.github.com/licenses/mit",
+      "node_id": "MDc6TGljZW5zZTEz"
+    }
+  },
+  "sender": {
+    "login": "electron"
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.ready_for_review.json b/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.ready_for_review.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0279c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/api-review-state/pull_request.ready_for_review.json
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+{
+  "action": "ready_for_review",
+  "number": 26876,
+  "pull_request": {
+    "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/pulls/26876",
+    "id": 534054584,
+    "node_id": "MDExOlB1bGxSZXF1ZXN0NTM0MDU0NTg0",
+    "html_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876",
+    "diff_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876.diff",
+    "patch_url": "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/26876.patch",
+    "issue_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/issues/26876",
+    "number": 26876,
+    "state": "open",
+    "locked": false,
+    "draft": false,
+    "title": "chore: fix JS linting",
+    "user": {
+      "login": "MarshallOfSound",
+      "id": 6634592,
+      "node_id": "MDQ6VXNlcjY2MzQ1OTI=",
+      "avatar_url": "https://avatars3.githubusercontent.com/u/6634592?v=4",
+      "gravatar_id": "",
+      "url": "https://api.github.com/users/MarshallOfSound"
+    },
+    "body": "* Ensure --fix output is actually written to disk\r\n* Cache bust on lint.js file changes\r\n* Ensure CI does not use the linting cache\r\n\r\nNotes: no-notes",
+    "created_at": "2020-12-08T01:24:55Z",
+    "updated_at": "2020-12-08T01:24:55Z",
+    "closed_at": null,
+    "merged_at": null,
+    "merge_commit_sha": null,
+    "assignee": null,
+    "labels": [
+      {
+        "id": 1034512799,
+        "node_id": "MDU6TGFiZWwxMDM0NTEyNzk5",
+        "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/electron/electron/labels/semver/major",
+        "name": "semver/minor",
+        "color": "6ac2dd",
+        "default": false,
+        "description": "backwards-compatible bug fixes"
+      }
+    ],
+    "head": {
+      "label": "electron:fix-lint-js",
+      "ref": "fix-lint-js",
+      "sha": "c6b1b7168ab850a47f856c4a30f7a441bede1117",
+      "user": {
+        "login": "electron",
+        "id": 13409222
+      },
+      "repo": {
+        "id": 9384267,
+        "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+        "name": "electron",
+        "full_name": "electron/electron",
+        "private": false,
+        "owner": {
+          "login": "electron",
+          "id": 13409222
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "base": {
+      "label": "electron:main",
+      "ref": "main",
+      "sha": "c41b8d536b2d886abbe739374c0a46f99242a894",
+      "user": {
+        "login": "electron",
+        "id": 13409222,
+        "node_id": "MDEyOk9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbjEzNDA5MjIy",
+        "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/13409222?v=4",
+        "gravatar_id": "",
+        "url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron",
+        "html_url": "https://github.com/electron",
+        "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/followers",
+        "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/following{/other_user}",
+        "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/gists{/gist_id}",
+        "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
+        "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/subscriptions",
+        "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/orgs",
+        "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/repos",
+        "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/events{/privacy}",
+        "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/received_events",
+        "type": "Organization",
+        "site_admin": false
+      },
+      "repo": {
+        "id": 9384267,
+        "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+        "name": "electron",
+        "full_name": "electron/electron",
+        "default_branch": "main",
+        "private": false,
+        "owner": {
+          "login": "electron",
+          "id": 13409222,
+          "node_id": "MDEyOk9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbjEzNDA5MjIy",
+          "avatar_url": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/13409222?v=4",
+          "gravatar_id": "",
+          "url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron",
+          "html_url": "https://github.com/electron",
+          "followers_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/followers",
+          "following_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/following{/other_user}",
+          "gists_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/gists{/gist_id}",
+          "starred_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/starred{/owner}{/repo}",
+          "subscriptions_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/subscriptions",
+          "organizations_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/orgs",
+          "repos_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/repos",
+          "events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/events{/privacy}",
+          "received_events_url": "https://api.github.com/users/electron/received_events",
+          "type": "Organization",
+          "site_admin": false
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "repository": {
+    "id": 9384267,
+    "node_id": "MDEwOlJlcG9zaXRvcnk5Mzg0MjY3",
+    "name": "electron",
+    "full_name": "electron/electron",
+    "private": false,
+    "owner": {
+      "login": "electron",
+      "id": 13409222
+    },
+    "license": {
+      "key": "mit",
+      "name": "MIT License",
+      "spdx_id": "MIT",
+      "url": "https://api.github.com/licenses/mit",
+      "node_id": "MDc6TGljZW5zZTEz"
+    }
+  },
+  "sender": {
+    "login": "electron"
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/api-review-state.ts b/src/api-review-state.ts
index 74c164c..29c2d22 100644
--- a/src/api-review-state.ts
+++ b/src/api-review-state.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ const isBot = (user: string) => user === getEnvVar('BOT_USER_NAME', 'bot');
 export const isReviewLabel = (label: string) => Object.values(REVIEW_LABELS).includes(label);
 export const isSemverMajorMinorLabel = (label: string) =>
   [SEMVER_LABELS.MINOR, SEMVER_LABELS.MAJOR].includes(label);
+export const hasSemverMajorMinorLabel = (pr: PullRequest) =>
+  pr.labels.some((l) => isSemverMajorMinorLabel(l.name));
+export const hasAPIReviewRequestedLabel = (pr: PullRequest) =>
+  pr.labels.some((l) => l.name === REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED);
 
 /**
  * Determines the PR readiness date depending on its semver label.
@@ -361,6 +365,10 @@ export async function checkPRReadyForMerge(
 }
 
 export function setupAPIReviewStateManagement(probot: Probot) {
+  /**
+   * If a PR is opened or synchronized, we want to ensure the
+   * API review check is up-to-date.
+   */
   probot.on(
     ['pull_request.synchronize', 'pull_request.opened'],
     async (context: Context<'pull_request'>) => {
@@ -368,6 +376,10 @@ export function setupAPIReviewStateManagement(probot: Probot) {
     },
   );
 
+  /**
+   * If a PR review is submitted, we want to ensure the API
+   * review check is up-to-date.
+   */
   probot.on(
     'pull_request_review.submitted',
     async (context: Context<'pull_request_review.submitted'>) => {
@@ -377,6 +389,52 @@ export function setupAPIReviewStateManagement(probot: Probot) {
     },
   );
 
+  /**
+   * If a PR with API review requirements is marked ready for review,
+   * we want to add the 'api-review/requested 🗳' label.
+   */
+  probot.on('pull_request.ready_for_review', async (context: Context<'pull_request'>) => {
+    const { pull_request: pr, repository } = context.payload;
+
+    if (hasSemverMajorMinorLabel(pr)) {
+      probot.log(
+        'semver-minor or semver-major PR:',
+        `${repository.full_name}#${pr.number}`,
+        'was marked as ready for review',
+        "Adding the 'api-review/requested 🗳' label",
+      );
+
+      await addLabels(context.octokit, {
+        ...context.repo({}),
+        prNumber: pr.number,
+        labels: [REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED],
+      });
+    }
+  });
+
+  /**
+   * If a PR with existing API review requirements is converted to draft status,
+   * we want to remove the 'api-review/requested 🗳' label.
+   */
+  probot.on('pull_request.converted_to_draft', async (context: Context<'pull_request'>) => {
+    const { pull_request: pr, repository } = context.payload;
+
+    if (hasSemverMajorMinorLabel(pr) && hasAPIReviewRequestedLabel(pr)) {
+      probot.log(
+        'semver-minor or semver-major PR:',
+        `${repository.full_name}#${pr.number}`,
+        'was converted to draft status',
+        "Removing the 'api-review/requested 🗳' label",
+      );
+
+      await removeLabel(context.octokit, {
+        ...context.repo({}),
+        prNumber: pr.number,
+        name: REVIEW_LABELS.REQUESTED,
+      });
+    }
+  });
+
   /**
    * If a potential API PR is labeled, there are several decision trees we
    * can potentially take, outlined as follows:
@@ -408,14 +466,16 @@ export function setupAPIReviewStateManagement(probot: Probot) {
     // Once a PR is merged, allow tampering.
     if (pr.merged) return;
 
-    // Exclude PRs from api review if they:
+    // Exclude PRs from API review if they:
     // 1) Have backport, backport-skip, or fast-track labels
     // 2) Are targeting a non-main branch
     // 3) Are semver-patch PRs
+    // 4) Are draft PRs
     const excludePR =
       pr.labels.some((l) => EXCLUDE_LABELS.includes(l.name)) ||
       pr.base.ref !== pr.base.repo.default_branch ||
-      label.name === SEMVER_LABELS.PATCH;
+      label.name === SEMVER_LABELS.PATCH ||
+      pr.draft;
 
     // If a PR is semver-minor or semver-major and the PR does not have an
     // exclusion condition, automatically add the 'api-review/requested 🗳' label.
@@ -446,7 +506,6 @@ export function setupAPIReviewStateManagement(probot: Probot) {
           name: label.name,
         });
       }
-
       // Remove the api-review/requested 🗳' label if it was added prior to an exclusion label -
       // for example if the backport label was added by trop after cation got to it.
     } else if (excludePR) {