diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 8eaedbc..210cee5 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -365,6 +365,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Ansible Collections
         run: ansible-galaxy collection install -r ansible/requirements.yml
 
+      - name: Install skopeo
+        run: |
+          apt-get update
+          apt-get install -y skopeo
+
       - name: Generate Ansible Inventory
         working-directory: ansible
         run: python3 generate_inventory.py
@@ -374,14 +379,15 @@ jobs:
           set -euo pipefail
           mkdir -p outputs
           for attempt in 1 2 3; do
-            if docker pull ghcr.io/kube-vip/kube-vip:v1.1.2; then
-              docker save -o outputs/kube-vip-bootstrap.tar ghcr.io/kube-vip/kube-vip:v1.1.2
+            if skopeo copy \
+              docker://ghcr.io/kube-vip/kube-vip:v1.1.2 \
+              docker-archive:outputs/kube-vip-bootstrap.tar:ghcr.io/kube-vip/kube-vip:v1.1.2; then
               exit 0
             fi
             sleep 10
           done
-          echo "Best-effort runner kube-vip image archive preparation failed; Ansible will try node-side pulls" >&2
-        continue-on-error: true
+          echo "Failed to prepare kube-vip image archive on runner" >&2
+          exit 1
 
       - name: Run Ansible Playbook
         working-directory: ansible