diff --git a/scripts/check-training-needed.sh b/scripts/check-training-needed.sh
index ac225ba..ebb670c 100755
--- a/scripts/check-training-needed.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-training-needed.sh
@@ -40,12 +40,26 @@ log_error() {
     echo -e "${RED}[ERROR]${NC} $*"
 }
 
+# Output function (works in both CI and standalone mode)
+output_result() {
+    local key="$1"
+    local value="$2"
+
+    # Write to GITHUB_OUTPUT if in CI environment
+    if [[ -n "${GITHUB_OUTPUT:-}" ]]; then
+        echo "$key=$value" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+    fi
+
+    # Always write to stdout for standalone usage
+    echo "$key=$value"
+}
+
 # Check if training marker exists
 if [[ ! -f "$TRAINING_MARKER" ]]; then
     log_info "No previous training found - training needed"
-    echo "should_train=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "last_trained=never" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "next_available=now" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+    output_result "should_train" "true"
+    output_result "last_trained" "never"
+    output_result "next_available" "now"
     exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -62,9 +76,9 @@ next_available_iso=$(date -d "@$next_available_epoch" -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ 2>/
 # Check if force flag is set
 if [[ "$FORCE_TRAINING" == "true" ]]; then
     log_warn "Force flag set - bypassing cooldown"
-    echo "should_train=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "last_trained=$last_trained_iso" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "next_available=now (forced)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+    output_result "should_train" "true"
+    output_result "last_trained" "$last_trained_iso"
+    output_result "next_available" "now (forced)"
     exit 0
 fi
 
@@ -73,9 +87,9 @@ if (( elapsed_seconds >= COOLDOWN_SECONDS )); then
     log_info "Cooldown expired - training needed"
     log_info "Last trained: $last_trained_iso"
     log_info "Elapsed: $(( elapsed_seconds / 3600 )) hours"
-    echo "should_train=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "last_trained=$last_trained_iso" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "next_available=now" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+    output_result "should_train" "true"
+    output_result "last_trained" "$last_trained_iso"
+    output_result "next_available" "now"
     exit 0
 else
     remaining_seconds=$(( COOLDOWN_SECONDS - elapsed_seconds ))
@@ -88,8 +102,8 @@ else
     log_info "Remaining: ${remaining_hours}h ${remaining_minutes}m"
     log_info "Next available: $next_available_iso"
 
-    echo "should_train=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "last_trained=$last_trained_iso" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-    echo "next_available=$next_available_iso" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+    output_result "should_train" "false"
+    output_result "last_trained" "$last_trained_iso"
+    output_result "next_available" "$next_available_iso"
     exit 0
 fi