diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index c76b763..6167ceb 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -11,22 +11,32 @@ jobs:
     container:
       image: ubuntu:24.04
     steps:
-      - name: Install toolchain
+      # actions/checkout@v4 is a Node-based action; the bare ubuntu:24.04
+      # runner image has no node, so checkout fails with
+      # `exitcode '127': command not found`.  Install node + git BEFORE
+      # checkout, then install the rest of the toolchain after.
+      - name: Bootstrap (node + git for actions/checkout)
         run: |
           export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
           apt-get update
+          apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+            git \
+            ca-certificates \
+            nodejs
+
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Install C++ toolchain
+        run: |
+          export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
           apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
             build-essential \
             cmake \
             ninja-build \
-            git \
             libasio-dev \
             libyaml-cpp-dev \
             python3 \
-            python3-yaml \
-            ca-certificates
-
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+            python3-yaml
 
       - name: Configure
         run: cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release