diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
index ac2e7f904e3..eb80d20af72 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
@@ -871,8 +871,17 @@ jobs:
           npm install -g node-gyp@11.5.0
           echo "npm_config_node_gyp=$(npm root -g)/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
+      # Why: this install runs lifecycle scripts, so node-gyp rebuilds
+      # native/windows-registry and fetches that Node version's headers from
+      # nodejs.org. One `read ECONNRESET` there failed this blocking gate and the
+      # whole cut. Retry like the release build's install below.
       - name: Install dependencies
-        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+        uses: nick-fields/retry@v4
+        with:
+          timeout_minutes: 10
+          max_attempts: 3
+          retry_wait_seconds: 30
+          command: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
       - name: Build Electron app for platform golden
         run: npx electron-vite build --mode e2e
@@ -1088,8 +1097,14 @@ jobs:
           npm install -g node-gyp@11.5.0
           echo "npm_config_node_gyp=$(npm root -g)/node-gyp/bin/node-gyp.js" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
+      # Same node-gyp header fetch as the blocking golden gate above.
       - name: Install dependencies
-        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+        uses: nick-fields/retry@v4
+        with:
+          timeout_minutes: 10
+          max_attempts: 3
+          retry_wait_seconds: 30
+          command: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
       - name: Build Electron app for terminal rendering evidence
         run: npx electron-vite build --mode e2e
diff --git a/config/scripts/ci-dependency-download-cache.test.mjs b/config/scripts/ci-dependency-download-cache.test.mjs
index d2111a230bb..0860b53ebca 100644
--- a/config/scripts/ci-dependency-download-cache.test.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/ci-dependency-download-cache.test.mjs
@@ -32,25 +32,37 @@ describe('CI dependency download caches', () => {
 describe('release install targets', () => {
   const macCpuFlag = '--cpu=current,x64,arm64'
   // Both shapes: `run:` steps and steps wrapped in nick-fields/retry (`with.command`).
+  const installCommand = (step) => step.with?.command ?? step.run
   const installSteps = (name) =>
     Object.values(workflow(name).jobs)
       .flatMap((job) => job.steps ?? [])
-      .map((step) => step.with?.command ?? step.run)
-      .filter((command) => typeof command === 'string' && command.includes('pnpm install '))
+      .filter((step) => installCommand(step)?.includes('pnpm install '))
+  const installCommands = (name) => installSteps(name).map(installCommand)
 
   it.each(['adhoc-mac-build', 'daily-mac-build', 'hourly-mac-build', 'release-mac-build'])(
     '%s installs both mac CPU variants for the x64+arm64 package config',
     (name) => {
-      const installs = installSteps(name)
+      const installs = installCommands(name)
       expect(installs.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
       expect(installs.some((command) => command.includes(macCpuFlag))).toBe(true)
     }
   )
 
+  // A transient `read ECONNRESET` fetching this Node version's headers for
+  // native/windows-registry's node-gyp rebuild failed a blocking golden gate and the cut.
+  it('retries every release-cut install so one transient download cannot fail a cut', () => {
+    const installs = installSteps('release-cut')
+    expect(installs.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+    for (const step of installs) {
+      expect(step.uses).toBe('nick-fields/retry@v4')
+      expect(step.with.max_attempts).toBeGreaterThan(1)
+    }
+  })
+
   it.each(['release-cut', 'dev-channel-win-build', 'windows-signing-rehearsal'])(
     '%s keeps installs scoped to the runner host',
     (name) => {
-      const installs = installSteps(name)
+      const installs = installCommands(name)
       expect(installs.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
       for (const command of installs) {
         expect(command).not.toContain('--os=')
diff --git a/src/main/skills/skill-upload-session-admission-regression.test.ts b/src/main/skills/skill-upload-session-admission-regression.test.ts
index f34199b9aad..3d13a587889 100644
--- a/src/main/skills/skill-upload-session-admission-regression.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/skills/skill-upload-session-admission-regression.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const openGate = vi.hoisted(() => ({
 }))
 
 // Models Windows delete-pending rmdir: the first removal wins and every later one gets EPERM.
-const deletePendingGate = vi.hoisted(() => ({ removed: null as Set<string> | null }))
+const deletePendingGate = vi.hoisted((): { removed: Set<string> | null } => ({ removed: null }))
 
 vi.mock('node:fs/promises', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = await importOriginal<typeof NodeFsPromises>()