diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index b35d693fe..08aa4fdf1 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,15 @@ jobs:
         run: cd ui/desktop && npx ember test --test-port 0
 
       - name: test admin ui
-        run: cd ui/admin && npx ember exam --test-port 0 --split=4 --parallel=1
+        # Partitions run one after another (one browser at a time): four
+        # concurrent headless browsers stalled on the small shared runners.
+        run: |
+          cd ui/admin
+          for p in 1 2 3 4; do
+            echo "::group::admin partition $p/4"
+            timeout 25m npx ember exam --test-port 0 --split=4 --partition=$p
+            echo "::endgroup::"
+          done
 
       - name: dependency audit
         # Fails on critical advisories only; remaining high/moderate advisories