diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index e4fce74..35b0ad0 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           if command -v sudo >/dev/null; then SUDO=sudo; else SUDO=; fi
           $SUDO apt-get update
+          # xvfb: wails' bindings generation executes the app, and the hotkey
+          # package's X11 init panics without a display on a headless runner
           $SUDO apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
-            build-essential pkg-config libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libx11-dev
+            build-essential pkg-config libgtk-3-dev libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libx11-dev xvfb
       - name: Install Wails CLI
         run: go install github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/cmd/wails@latest
       - name: Build tefterd for all platforms
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
           rm -rf desktop/frontend/dist
           cp -r frontend/dist desktop/frontend/dist
           cd desktop && PATH="$PATH:$(go env GOPATH)/bin" \
-            wails build -tags webkit2_41 -ldflags "-X main.Version=${{ github.ref_name }}"
+            xvfb-run -a wails build -tags webkit2_41 -ldflags "-X main.Version=${{ github.ref_name }}"
       - name: Package artifacts
         run: |
           mkdir -p out pkg