diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/deploy-next.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/deploy-next.yml
index b31690ee..bd539350 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/deploy-next.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/deploy-next.yml
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: src/simulator
         run: bash build-wasm.sh
 
+      # ── Install deps ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+      # Fresh checkouts have no node_modules/. `./run deploy:guide:next`
+      # calls `pnpm build` inside the guide workspace, which needs the
+      # `vite` + `@magic-civ/guide-engine` packages wired up by a workspace
+      # install at repo root.
+      - name: pnpm install
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile --prefer-offline
+
       # ── Deploy ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
       # cmd_deploy_guide_next does: WASM prereq check → VITE_DEV_GUIDE=1 pnpm build
       # → SSH reachability probe → rsync -az --delete → curl HTTP 200 verify.