diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9401414bf..8d5906f52 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -463,6 +463,17 @@ jobs:
                       --paginate --jq '.[] | .filename, (.previous_filename // empty)' |
                       node tools/coverage/unit-coverage-scope.mjs --base FETCH_HEAD --github-output
 
+            # pnpm only runs build scripts for allow-listed packages
+            # (pnpm-workspace.yaml), so electron's postinstall never fetches
+            # its binary. `require('electron')` then downloads it lazily, and
+            # parallel Jest workers that spawn Electron race on the same
+            # download: one executes the half-written binary (ETXTBSY).
+            # Fetch it once before the Tier A suite, the only step here whose
+            # specs spawn Electron; install.js skips an existing binary.
+            - name: Install the Electron binary
+              if: steps.scope.outputs.run == 'true'
+              run: node node_modules/electron/install.js
+
             # Jest's transform cache (TypeScript/Angular transpilation plus
             # coverage instrumentation, keyed by file content) is persisted
             # between runs. Only master pushes and maintainer dispatches save