diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
index 1db2cb7..8674c33 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/build-and-publish.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Build and publish changed packages
         run: |
+          # Persist cargo registry + git cache across runs by piggy-backing
+          # on the existing persistent CARGO_TARGET_DIR volume (compose
+          # mounts ./runner-cargo-target -> /cache/target). Without this,
+          # every build re-downloads every crate.
+          export CARGO_HOME="${CARGO_TARGET_DIR:-/cache/target}/cargo-home"
+          mkdir -p "$CARGO_HOME"
+
           rm -rf repo
           git clone http://gitea:3000/nevaforget/moonarch-pkgbuilds.git repo
           cd repo