diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 694882b..8b42658 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '22'
-          cache: 'npm'
+          # No `cache: 'npm'` here — the template ships without a lock file.
+          # Once your downstream repo has a package-lock.json from `npm install`,
+          # add `cache: 'npm'` back and switch the install step to `npm ci`.
 
-      - name: Install
-        run: npm ci
+      - name: Install (use ci once lock file exists)
+        run: npm install
 
       - name: Prisma generate (validates schema)
         run: npx prisma generate