diff --git a/.github/workflows/cache-warm.yml b/.github/workflows/cache-warm.yml
index f71002fe2..bbb176158 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cache-warm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cache-warm.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   warm-cache:
+    # Skipped while the mini is away (KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER=hosted); a self-hosted
+    # job with no runner online just queues. See the header of ci.yml.
+    if: vars.KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER != 'hosted'
     runs-on: [self-hosted, macOS, keypath, swiftpm-safe]
     timeout-minutes: 5
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b3bb8fc1b..68f915023 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ concurrency:
 # mini. Job names, and so the required checks, are the same either way.
 #   gh variable set KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER --repo malpern/KeyPath --body hosted
 #   gh variable delete KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER --repo malpern/KeyPath
-# Only ci.yml has the fallback; coverage, cache-warm and runner-health are
-# scheduled jobs that stay on the mini and don't gate PRs.
+# Only ci.yml has the fallback. coverage, cache-warm and runner-health are
+# mini-only jobs that do not gate PRs; they skip while this variable is set.
 
 # GitHub counts a skipped check as passing, so the required checks must never be
 # skipped. `build-and-test` and `code-quality` at the bottom of this file always run
diff --git a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
index efe44f000..44a0596e6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   narrow-coverage:
+    # Skipped while the mini is away (KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER=hosted); a self-hosted
+    # job with no runner online just queues. See the header of ci.yml.
+    if: vars.KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER != 'hosted'
     runs-on: [self-hosted, macOS, keypath, swiftpm-safe]
     timeout-minutes: 10
     env:
@@ -108,7 +111,8 @@ jobs:
     # serializes them; `if: always()` still surfaces full numbers when the narrow
     # floor regresses or a filtered test fails.
     needs: [narrow-coverage]
-    if: always()
+    # Also skipped while the mini is away (KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER=hosted); see ci.yml.
+    if: always() && vars.KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER != 'hosted'
     timeout-minutes: 40
     steps:
       - name: Clean stale git credentials
diff --git a/.github/workflows/runner-health.yml b/.github/workflows/runner-health.yml
index 52b9527e8..6b59e8023 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/runner-health.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/runner-health.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   ping:
+    # Skipped while the mini is away (KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER=hosted); a self-hosted
+    # job with no runner online just queues. See the header of ci.yml.
+    if: vars.KEYPATH_CI_RUNNER != 'hosted'
     runs-on: [self-hosted, macOS, keypath]
     timeout-minutes: 2
     steps: