diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1e87c5bc7bd1..c0b0836170dd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1589,7 +1589,9 @@ jobs:
     name: checks-ui
     needs: [preflight]
     if: needs.preflight.outputs.run_ui_tests == 'true'
-    runs-on: ${{ (vars.OPENCLAW_CI_RUNNER_BACKEND == 'github' || vars.OPENCLAW_CI_RUNNER_BACKEND == 'hybrid') && 'ubuntu-24.04' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && 'ubuntu-24.04' || (github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && (github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == 'openclaw/openclaw') && 'blacksmith-4vcpu-ubuntu-2404' || 'ubuntu-24.04') }}
+    # Measured 177s body on hosted 4-core (run 31861511624); hybrid attempt 1
+    # rides the 8 vCPU class like the ui-e2e shards, retries stay hosted.
+    runs-on: ${{ vars.OPENCLAW_CI_RUNNER_BACKEND == 'github' && 'ubuntu-24.04' || (vars.OPENCLAW_CI_RUNNER_BACKEND == 'hybrid' && github.run_attempt > 1) && 'ubuntu-24.04' || github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && 'ubuntu-24.04' || (vars.OPENCLAW_CI_RUNNER_BACKEND == 'hybrid' && github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && (github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == 'openclaw/openclaw') && 'blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404' || (github.repository == 'openclaw/openclaw' && (github.event_name != 'pull_request' || github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name == 'openclaw/openclaw') && 'blacksmith-4vcpu-ubuntu-2404' || 'ubuntu-24.04')) }}
     timeout-minutes: 20
     env:
       COMPATIBILITY_TARGET: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.compatibility_target }}
diff --git a/test/scripts/ci-workflow-guards.test.ts b/test/scripts/ci-workflow-guards.test.ts
index 30a512ad7836..478b3ce522ae 100644
--- a/test/scripts/ci-workflow-guards.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/ci-workflow-guards.test.ts
@@ -3045,6 +3045,7 @@ NODE
       "macos-swift": "blacksmith-12vcpu-macos-26",
       "ios-build": "blacksmith-12vcpu-macos-26",
       "check-test-types-hosted-core-shard": "blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404",
+      "checks-ui": "blacksmith-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404",
     } as const;
     const configurableJobs = Object.entries(jobs)
       .filter(([, job]) => String(job["runs-on"]).startsWith("${{"))