diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/cicd-checks.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/cicd-checks.yaml
index 6af6958..130776c 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/cicd-checks.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/cicd-checks.yaml
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ concurrency:
 jobs:
   setup:
     name: Setup Checks Context
-    # Prefer the generic ubuntu-latest label for better runner availability.
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Use the same stable runner label as the check matrix jobs.
+    runs-on: ubuntu-act
     timeout-minutes: 8
     outputs:
       head_sha: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.head_sha }}
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ jobs:
 
   dispatch-tests:
     name: Dispatch CICD Tests
-    # Prefer the generic ubuntu-latest label for better runner availability.
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Keep dispatch on the same runner pool as setup/check jobs.
+    runs-on: ubuntu-act
     timeout-minutes: 15
     needs: [setup, run-check]
     steps: