diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index d42b503..590f34c 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ env:
   CARGO_BUILD_JOBS: "2"
   CARGO_INCREMENTAL: "0"
   RUST_TEST_THREADS: "2"
-  RUSTUP_MAX_RETRIES: "3"
   TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_DISABLED: "true"
 
 jobs:
@@ -23,15 +22,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
-      - name: Prepare Rust toolchain
+      - name: Check Rust toolchain is preinstalled
         run: |
           rustup --version
           rustup toolchain list
-          timeout 10m rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 \
-            --profile minimal \
-            --component clippy \
-            --component rustfmt \
-            --no-self-update
+          rustup toolchain list | grep -F '1.85.0' >/dev/null || {
+            echo 'Rust 1.85.0 is not installed in the Gitea runner image.' >&2
+            echo 'Install it on the runner image/host before running CI:' >&2
+            echo 'rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 --profile minimal --component clippy --component rustfmt' >&2
+            exit 1
+          }
           rustup component list --toolchain 1.85.0 --installed
 
       - name: Verify runner toolchain
@@ -116,15 +116,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
-      - name: Prepare Rust toolchain
+      - name: Check Rust toolchain is preinstalled
         run: |
           rustup --version
           rustup toolchain list
-          timeout 10m rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 \
-            --profile minimal \
-            --component clippy \
-            --component rustfmt \
-            --no-self-update
+          rustup toolchain list | grep -F '1.85.0' >/dev/null || {
+            echo 'Rust 1.85.0 is not installed in the Gitea runner image.' >&2
+            echo 'Install it on the runner image/host before running CI:' >&2
+            echo 'rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 --profile minimal --component clippy --component rustfmt' >&2
+            exit 1
+          }
           rustup component list --toolchain 1.85.0 --installed
 
       - name: Verify runner toolchain
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 198b297..2e61a89 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ env:
   MCP_SERVER_IMAGE: git.itexp.me/bsodfather/crank-community-mcp-server
   UI_IMAGE: git.itexp.me/bsodfather/crank-community-ui
   OPENBAO_ENV_FILE: .openbao-env
-  RUSTUP_MAX_RETRIES: "3"
 
 jobs:
   release:
@@ -23,15 +22,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
-      - name: Prepare Rust toolchain
+      - name: Check Rust toolchain is preinstalled
         run: |
           rustup --version
           rustup toolchain list
-          timeout 10m rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 \
-            --profile minimal \
-            --component clippy \
-            --component rustfmt \
-            --no-self-update
+          rustup toolchain list | grep -F '1.85.0' >/dev/null || {
+            echo 'Rust 1.85.0 is not installed in the Gitea runner image.' >&2
+            echo 'Install it on the runner image/host before running CI:' >&2
+            echo 'rustup toolchain install 1.85.0 --profile minimal --component clippy --component rustfmt' >&2
+            exit 1
+          }
           rustup component list --toolchain 1.85.0 --installed
 
       - name: Verify runner toolchain