diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-publish.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build-publish.yml
index b17a8f3..b77b4de 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-publish.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-publish.yml
@@ -50,14 +50,14 @@ jobs:
       image: ${{ matrix.image }}
 
     steps:
-      # The default debian/ubuntu images lack git + ca-certificates, which
-      # actions/checkout needs. Cheaper to install just those two here than
-      # to bake a custom image.
+      # The default debian/ubuntu images lack git + ca-certificates + node,
+      # all of which actions/checkout@v4 needs (it's a JS action). Cheaper to
+      # install them here than to bake a custom image.
       - name: Bootstrap checkout deps
         run: |
           apt-get update -qq
           DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
-            git ca-certificates
+            git ca-certificates nodejs
 
       - name: Checkout source
         uses: actions/checkout@v4