diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1b46d880d..3e06020ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -285,7 +285,11 @@ jobs:
   # job so a run starts no extra runner.
   release-readiness:
     if: github.event.pull_request.draft != true
-    runs-on: ${{ vars.DISABLE_DEPOT_RUNNERS == 'true' && 'ubuntu-latest' || 'depot-ubuntu-24.04-4' }}
+    # GitHub-hosted, not Depot: a ~10 s job that gates coverage, e2e-build and
+    # most of the run, so a slow Depot boot here delays every job behind it
+    # (#1795). If hosted Linux backs up, set the repo variable
+    # RELEASE_READINESS_RUNNER (e.g. depot-ubuntu-24.04-4); no merge needed.
+    runs-on: ${{ vars.RELEASE_READINESS_RUNNER || 'ubuntu-latest' }}
     timeout-minutes: 10
     permissions:
       contents: read
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_ci_scheduling.py b/scripts/tests/test_ci_scheduling.py
index 3c94c5587..32bcad39f 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_ci_scheduling.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_ci_scheduling.py
@@ -45,6 +45,13 @@ def test_ci_ok_defaults_to_a_hosted_runner(self):
         runs_on = [line for line in JOBS["ci-ok"] if line.startswith("    runs-on:")]
         self.assertEqual(runs_on, ["    runs-on: ${{ vars.CI_OK_RUNNER || 'ubuntu-latest' }}"])
 
+    def test_release_readiness_defaults_to_a_hosted_runner(self):
+        # A ~10 s gate in front of coverage and e2e-build must not pay a Depot
+        # host boot on the critical path (#1795); the variable is the escape hatch.
+        runs_on = [line for line in JOBS["release-readiness"] if line.startswith("    runs-on:")]
+        self.assertEqual(runs_on,
+                         ["    runs-on: ${{ vars.RELEASE_READINESS_RUNNER || 'ubuntu-latest' }}"])
+
     def test_expensive_jobs_cannot_start_after_a_failed_preflight(self):
         cheap = {"clippy", "lint-ecosystems", "release-readiness", "dispatch-tests", "ci-ok"}
         # windows-compile-check is the lean queue's only Windows job and sits