diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 6b05f8c9..69552a2a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -97,4 +97,7 @@ jobs:
             ghcr.io/thedancingdeveloper-org/ngms:latest
             ghcr.io/thedancingdeveloper-org/ngms:sha-${{ github.sha }}
           cache-from: type=gha
-          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
+          # The first canonical push uploaded the image successfully, then
+          # wedged for more than 20 minutes exporting its optional GHA cache.
+          # Keep cache reads, but do not let cache publication hold the image
+          # delivery gate open indefinitely on the self-hosted publisher.