diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build.yml b/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
index cfabd1a..e868875 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build.yml
@@ -25,12 +25,30 @@ jobs:
       # Ставим Node 20 из NodeSource repo.
       - name: Bootstrap Node 20 + git (для actions/checkout)
         run: |
+          set -e
           export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
           apt-get update
           apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends curl git ca-certificates gnupg
-          curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -
+          # NodeSource setup может молча упасть на slow networks (особенно через VPN
+          # на u4-runner); retry + явная verification что Node >= 18 после install.
+          for i in 1 2 3; do
+            if curl -fsSL --retry 3 --retry-delay 5 --connect-timeout 30 \
+                 https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -; then
+              break
+            fi
+            echo "NodeSource setup attempt $i failed, retrying..."
+            sleep 10
+          done
           apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends nodejs
-          node --version
+          NODE_VER=$(node --version)
+          echo "node: $NODE_VER"
+          # actions/checkout@v4 требует Node 20+ (ES2022 static blocks).
+          # Если NodeSource setup упал и установился Ubuntu's Node 12 — фейлим явно.
+          NODE_MAJOR=$(echo "$NODE_VER" | sed -E 's/^v([0-9]+).*/\1/')
+          if [ "$NODE_MAJOR" -lt 18 ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: Node $NODE_VER too old, NodeSource setup likely failed" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
       - name: Install build deps
         run: |
@@ -80,12 +98,30 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Bootstrap Node 20 + git (для actions/checkout)
         run: |
+          set -e
           export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
           apt-get update
           apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends curl git ca-certificates gnupg
-          curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -
+          # NodeSource setup может молча упасть на slow networks (особенно через VPN
+          # на u4-runner); retry + явная verification что Node >= 18 после install.
+          for i in 1 2 3; do
+            if curl -fsSL --retry 3 --retry-delay 5 --connect-timeout 30 \
+                 https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -; then
+              break
+            fi
+            echo "NodeSource setup attempt $i failed, retrying..."
+            sleep 10
+          done
           apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends nodejs
-          node --version
+          NODE_VER=$(node --version)
+          echo "node: $NODE_VER"
+          # actions/checkout@v4 требует Node 20+ (ES2022 static blocks).
+          # Если NodeSource setup упал и установился Ubuntu's Node 12 — фейлим явно.
+          NODE_MAJOR=$(echo "$NODE_VER" | sed -E 's/^v([0-9]+).*/\1/')
+          if [ "$NODE_MAJOR" -lt 18 ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: Node $NODE_VER too old, NodeSource setup likely failed" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
       - name: Install build deps
         run: |