diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index acb6900120ef..13290f04116d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -296,7 +296,11 @@ jobs:
   transfer-report:
     name: Transfer report artifact
     needs: test_server
-    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    # On Blacksmith like every other job here: the GitHub-hosted queue is shared
+    # with the PR bots and can leave this job waiting until it is abandoned,
+    # which fails `Check` on an otherwise green run.
+    runs-on: blacksmith-2vcpu-ubuntu-2404
+    timeout-minutes: 5
     steps:
       - name: Require transfer measurements
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v8