diff --git a/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.0.yml b/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.0.yml
index d70b83a61..7c8f25244 100644
--- a/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.0.yml
+++ b/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.0.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     parameters:
     - string:
         name: branch_specifier
-        default: refs/heads8.0
+        default: refs/heads/8.0
         description: the Git branch specifier to build (<branchName>, <tagName>,
           <commitId>, etc.)
     triggers:
diff --git a/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.1.yml b/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.1.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..61e86ad5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.ci/jobs/elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.1.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+- job:
+    name: elastic+elasticsearch-js+8.1
+    display-name: 'elastic / elasticsearch-js # 8.1'
+    description: Testing the elasticsearch-js 8.1 branch.
+    junit_results: "*-junit.xml"
+    parameters:
+    - string:
+        name: branch_specifier
+        default: refs/heads/8.1
+        description: the Git branch specifier to build (<branchName>, <tagName>,
+          <commitId>, etc.)
+    triggers:
+    - github
+    - timed: 'H */12 * * *'