diff --git a/.github/workflows/api.yml b/.github/workflows/api.yml
index a19667f97e..f0c49baf60 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api.yml
@@ -35,4 +35,4 @@ jobs:
         AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.SPACES_ACCESS_KEY }}
         AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.SPACES_SECRET_KEY }}
         AWS_S3_ENDPOINT: https://nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com
-        SOURCE_DIR: 'api_data'
+        SOURCE_DIR: '.build/api_data'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml b/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
index f0098142c7..3eb6e53c20 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/develop_api.yml
@@ -35,4 +35,4 @@ jobs:
         AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.SPACES_ACCESS_KEY }}
         AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.SPACES_SECRET_KEY }}
         AWS_S3_ENDPOINT: https://nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com
-        SOURCE_DIR: 'api_data'
+        SOURCE_DIR: '.build/api_data'
diff --git a/api_data/_config.yml b/api_data/_config.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 277f1f2c51..0000000000
--- a/api_data/_config.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-theme: jekyll-theme-cayman
diff --git a/api_data/readme.md b/data/templates/api/readme.md
similarity index 100%
rename from api_data/readme.md
rename to data/templates/api/readme.md
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
index 285bd90eb5..0596b3f22b 100755
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/generate/api.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """This script automates the generation of the QMK API data.
 """
 from pathlib import Path
-from shutil import copyfile
+import shutil
 import json
 
 from milc import cli
@@ -12,28 +12,42 @@ from qmk.json_encoders import InfoJSONEncoder
 from qmk.json_schema import json_load
 from qmk.keyboard import find_readme, list_keyboards
 
+TEMPLATE_PATH = Path('data/templates/api/')
+BUILD_API_PATH = Path('.build/api_data/')
+
 
 @cli.argument('-n', '--dry-run', arg_only=True, action='store_true', help="Don't write the data to disk.")
+@cli.argument('-f', '--filter', arg_only=True, action='append', default=[], help="Filter the list of keyboards based on partial name matches the supplied value. May be passed multiple times.")
 @cli.subcommand('Creates a new keymap for the keyboard of your choosing', hidden=False if cli.config.user.developer else True)
 def generate_api(cli):
     """Generates the QMK API data.
     """
-    api_data_dir = Path('api_data')
-    v1_dir = api_data_dir / 'v1'
+    if BUILD_API_PATH.exists():
+        shutil.rmtree(BUILD_API_PATH)
+
+    shutil.copytree(TEMPLATE_PATH, BUILD_API_PATH)
+
+    v1_dir = BUILD_API_PATH / 'v1'
     keyboard_all_file = v1_dir / 'keyboards.json'  # A massive JSON containing everything
     keyboard_list_file = v1_dir / 'keyboard_list.json'  # A simple list of keyboard targets
     keyboard_aliases_file = v1_dir / 'keyboard_aliases.json'  # A list of historical keyboard names and their new name
     keyboard_metadata_file = v1_dir / 'keyboard_metadata.json'  # All the data configurator/via needs for initialization
     usb_file = v1_dir / 'usb.json'  # A mapping of USB VID/PID -> keyboard target
 
-    if not api_data_dir.exists():
-        api_data_dir.mkdir()
+    # Filter down when required
+    keyboard_list = list_keyboards()
+    if cli.args.filter:
+        kb_list = []
+        for keyboard_name in keyboard_list:
+            if any(i in keyboard_name for i in cli.args.filter):
+                kb_list.append(keyboard_name)
+        keyboard_list = kb_list
 
     kb_all = {}
     usb_list = {}
 
     # Generate and write keyboard specific JSON files
-    for keyboard_name in list_keyboards():
+    for keyboard_name in keyboard_list:
         kb_all[keyboard_name] = info_json(keyboard_name)
         keyboard_dir = v1_dir / 'keyboards' / keyboard_name
         keyboard_info = keyboard_dir / 'info.json'
@@ -47,7 +61,7 @@ def generate_api(cli):
             cli.log.debug('Wrote file %s', keyboard_info)
 
             if keyboard_readme_src:
-                copyfile(keyboard_readme_src, keyboard_readme)
+                shutil.copyfile(keyboard_readme_src, keyboard_readme)
                 cli.log.debug('Copied %s -> %s', keyboard_readme_src, keyboard_readme)
 
         if 'usb' in kb_all[keyboard_name]:
diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/tests/test_cli_commands.py b/lib/python/qmk/tests/test_cli_commands.py
index 54b143c64f..c379c92229 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/tests/test_cli_commands.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/tests/test_cli_commands.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ def test_clean():
 
 
 def test_generate_api():
-    result = check_subcommand('generate-api', '--dry-run')
+    result = check_subcommand('generate-api', '--dry-run', '--filter', 'handwired/pytest')
     check_returncode(result)