diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index 61dbd90..06834dc 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # RN/NDK builds starve the 4-core VPS — run on the desktop runner
+    # (marcusDesktop). Jobs queue while the desktop is off and start when it
+    # comes online; switch back to ubuntu-latest to build on the VPS.
+    runs-on: desktop
     container:
       image: eclipse-temurin:21-jdk
     steps: