diff --git a/phase1_post_check.sh b/phase1_post_check.sh
index 94440bd..fcfbd63 100755
--- a/phase1_post_check.sh
+++ b/phase1_post_check.sh
@@ -55,15 +55,10 @@ run_check "API token valid (returns correct username)" check_token
 run_check "Organization '${GITEA_ORG_NAME}' exists" \
   curl -sf -o /dev/null -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_ADMIN_TOKEN}" "${GITEA_INTERNAL_URL}/api/v1/orgs/${GITEA_ORG_NAME}"
 
-# Check 5: Gitea Actions admin runners API is accessible
-# shellcheck disable=SC2329
-check_actions() {
-  local response
-  response=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_ADMIN_TOKEN}" "${GITEA_INTERNAL_URL}/api/v1/admin/runners")
-  # Endpoint should return a JSON array (possibly empty) when available.
-  printf '%s' "$response" | jq -e 'type == "array"' >/dev/null
-}
-run_check "Gitea Actions admin runners API accessible" check_actions
+# Check 5: Gitea API settings endpoint accessible
+# Runners are verified in phase3_post_check.sh — phase 1 only deploys Gitea itself.
+run_check "Gitea API settings endpoint accessible" \
+  curl -sf -o /dev/null -H "Authorization: token ${GITEA_ADMIN_TOKEN}" "${GITEA_INTERNAL_URL}/api/v1/settings/api"
 
 # Summary
 printf '\n'