diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test-runner.yml b/.gitea/workflows/test-runner.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d375847
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test-runner.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+name: Test runner alive
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+jobs:
+  hello:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: hello
+        run: |
+          echo "✔ runner alive"
+          uname -a
+          echo "secrets visible? DEPLOY_HOST length=${#DEPLOY_HOST}"
+        env:
+          DEPLOY_HOST: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}