diff --git a/workflow-templates/ci-fast-path.yml b/workflow-templates/ci-fast-path.yml
index 88ac430..ab4bc8d 100644
--- a/workflow-templates/ci-fast-path.yml
+++ b/workflow-templates/ci-fast-path.yml
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ jobs:
   ci-ok:
     if: always()
     needs: [changes, gate, heavy]
-    runs-on: ${{ github.event_name == 'merge_group' && 'sylphx-linux-standard-merge' || 'sylphx-linux-standard' }}
+    # The reserved gate pool (Kueue queue scale-set-gate, never lends): an
+    # `if: always()` verdict still runs after its run is cancelled, and that run
+    # keeps its concurrency group until it does, so on a busy build pool a
+    # superseded run held the next one (SylphxAI/agents#4222, 2026-10-02).
+    runs-on: sylphx-linux-control
     timeout-minutes: 5
     steps:
       - uses: SylphxAI/.github/.github/actions/needs-pass@main