diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 20e17d9..91a2984 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ on:
     branches: [master]
   pull_request:
     branches: [master]
+  # A runner pod replaced mid-job kills the job it is running: the step's log
+  # stops dead, no epilogue is written, and Gitea marks the orphan failed.
+  # Nothing in the tree is wrong when that happens and nothing in the tree can
+  # fix it, so the gate set must be re-runnable without an empty commit. This
+  # adds a trigger, not a check — the job list below stays the gate set alone.
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   gates: