diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index ffbf2a6..074cec1 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -194,8 +194,31 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Tailscale on runner
         run: curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
 
+      - name: Start tailscaled daemon
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p /var/run/tailscale
+          mkdir -p /var/lib/tailscale
+          nohup tailscaled \
+            --socket=/var/run/tailscale/tailscaled.sock \
+            --state=/var/lib/tailscale/tailscaled.state \
+            >/tmp/tailscaled.log 2>&1 &
+          for i in $(seq 1 20); do
+            tailscale --socket=/var/run/tailscale/tailscaled.sock status >/dev/null 2>&1 && break
+            sleep 1
+          done
+
       - name: Connect runner to tailnet
-        run: tailscale up --authkey "${{ secrets.TAILSCALE_CI_AUTH_KEY }}" --hostname "gitea-runner-${{ github.run_number }}" --ssh=false --accept-routes=false
+        run: |
+          tailscale --socket=/var/run/tailscale/tailscaled.sock up \
+            --authkey "${{ secrets.TAILSCALE_CI_AUTH_KEY }}" \
+            --hostname "gitea-runner-${{ github.run_number }}" \
+            --ssh=false \
+            --accept-routes=false
+
+      - name: Verify runner tailnet status
+        run: |
+          tailscale --socket=/var/run/tailscale/tailscaled.sock status
+          tailscale --socket=/var/run/tailscale/tailscaled.sock ip -4
 
       - name: Install Ansible Collections
         run: ansible-galaxy collection install -r ansible/requirements.yml