diff --git a/test/extended/machine_config/pinnedimages.go b/test/extended/machine_config/pinnedimages.go
index 08ae7c1e4adb..99b6d9e5eb33 100644
--- a/test/extended/machine_config/pinnedimages.go
+++ b/test/extended/machine_config/pinnedimages.go
@@ -352,24 +352,27 @@ func applyPIS(oc *exutil.CLI, pisFixture string, pis *mcfgv1.PinnedImageSet, pis
 // `addWorkerNodesToCustomPool` labels the desired number of worker nodes with the MCP role
 // selector so that the nodes become part of the desired custom MCP
 func addWorkerNodesToCustomPool(oc *exutil.CLI, kubeClient *kubernetes.Clientset, numberOfNodes int, customMCP string) ([]string, error) {
-	// Get the worker nodes
-	nodes, err := kubeClient.CoreV1().Nodes().List(context.TODO(), metav1.ListOptions{LabelSelector: labels.SelectorFromSet(labels.Set{"node-role.kubernetes.io/worker": ""}).String()})
+	// Get ready schedulable worker nodes (excludes nodes with NoSchedule/NoExecute taints and control-plane nodes)
+	nodes, err := exutil.GetReadySchedulableWorkerNodes(context.TODO(), kubeClient)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	// Return an error if there are less worker nodes in the cluster than the desired number of nodes to add to the custom MCP
-	if len(nodes.Items) < numberOfNodes {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Node in Worker MCP %d < Number of nodes needed in %d MCP", len(nodes.Items), numberOfNodes)
+
+	// Skip test gracefully if there are not enough schedulable worker nodes
+	// This handles SNO and compact cluster scenarios where nodes may have taints or dual roles
+	if len(nodes) < numberOfNodes {
+		g.Skip(fmt.Sprintf("Insufficient schedulable worker nodes: have %d, need %d (nodes may have taints or control-plane role)", len(nodes), numberOfNodes))
+		return nil, nil
 	}
 
 	// Label the nodes with the custom MCP role selector
 	var optedNodes []string
 	for node_i := 0; node_i < numberOfNodes; node_i++ {
-		err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("label").Args("node", nodes.Items[node_i].Name, fmt.Sprintf("node-role.kubernetes.io/%s=", customMCP)).Execute()
+		err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("label").Args("node", nodes[node_i].Name, fmt.Sprintf("node-role.kubernetes.io/%s=", customMCP)).Execute()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		optedNodes = append(optedNodes, nodes.Items[node_i].Name)
+		optedNodes = append(optedNodes, nodes[node_i].Name)
 	}
 	return optedNodes, nil
 }
diff --git a/test/extended/util/nodes.go b/test/extended/util/nodes.go
index df48b7a82362..fe83c8227566 100644
--- a/test/extended/util/nodes.go
+++ b/test/extended/util/nodes.go
@@ -158,3 +158,56 @@ func triggerNodeReboot(kubeClient kubernetes.Interface, nodeName string, attempt
 	}
 	return err
 }
+
+// GetReadySchedulableWorkerNodes returns ready schedulable worker nodes.
+// This function filters out nodes with NoSchedule/NoExecute taints and nodes
+// with control-plane/master roles, making it suitable for tests that need to
+// select pure worker nodes for workload placement (like MachineConfigPool assignments).
+func GetReadySchedulableWorkerNodes(ctx context.Context, client kubernetes.Interface) ([]corev1.Node, error) {
+	// Get all nodes
+	allNodes, err := client.CoreV1().Nodes().List(ctx, metav1.ListOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var schedulableWorkerNodes []corev1.Node
+	for _, node := range allNodes.Items {
+		// Skip if node is not ready
+		ready := false
+		for _, condition := range node.Status.Conditions {
+			if condition.Type == corev1.NodeReady && condition.Status == corev1.ConditionTrue {
+				ready = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if !ready {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Skip if node has NoSchedule or NoExecute taints
+		hasUnschedulableTaint := false
+		for _, taint := range node.Spec.Taints {
+			if taint.Effect == corev1.TaintEffectNoSchedule || taint.Effect == corev1.TaintEffectNoExecute {
+				hasUnschedulableTaint = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if hasUnschedulableTaint {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Skip if node has control-plane or master role (we want pure worker nodes)
+		_, hasControlPlane := node.Labels["node-role.kubernetes.io/control-plane"]
+		_, hasMaster := node.Labels["node-role.kubernetes.io/master"]
+		if hasControlPlane || hasMaster {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Only include if node has worker role
+		if _, hasWorker := node.Labels["node-role.kubernetes.io/worker"]; hasWorker {
+			schedulableWorkerNodes = append(schedulableWorkerNodes, node)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return schedulableWorkerNodes, nil
+}