diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test_pr.yml b/.gitea/workflows/test_pr.yml
index cfd1a1f..3e7b577 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/test_pr.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test_pr.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ on:
     types: [opened, synchronize, edited, reopened]
 
 jobs:
-  build-and-smoke:
+  build-image:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
@@ -17,24 +17,47 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v5
-      - name: Set up Python
-        run: uv python install
-        with:
-          python-version-file: "pyproject.toml"
-      - name: Install the project dependencies
+
+      - name: (optional) Prepare dependencies
         run: |
-          uv sync --all-groups
-          uv add pip
-          uv export --format requirements.txt -o requirements.txt
-          # uv run python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          # uv run python -m pip install -r requirements.txt
+          uv python install --python-version-file pyproject.toml || true
+          uv sync --all-groups || true
+          uv add pip || true
+          uv export --format requirements.txt -o requirements.txt || true
+
       - name: Build image
         run: |
           docker build -t semapform-api:test-pr .
 
+      - name: Save image artifact
+        run: |
+          docker save semapform-api:test-pr -o semapform-api.tar
+
+      - name: Upload image artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: semapform-image
+          path: semapform-api.tar
+
+  smoke-tests:
+    needs: build-image
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Download image artifact
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: semapform-image
+
+      - name: Restore image
+        run: |
+          docker load -i semapform-api.tar
+
       - name: Start container (background)
         run: |
-          # do NOT bind the container port to the host to avoid port conflicts on the runner
           docker run -d --name semapform-test semapform-api:test-pr sleep infinity
 
       - name: Start server in container and smoke test HTTP (in-container)
@@ -46,30 +69,27 @@ jobs:
           # show container status to aid debugging
           docker ps -a --filter name=semapform-test || true
 
-            # perform a readiness loop (try container-local /health) using small execs
-            echo "waiting for service to become ready inside container"
-            set -e
-            READY=0
-            for i in $(seq 1 20); do
-              echo "ready attempt $i"
-              if docker exec semapform-test python -c 'import urllib.request,sys; urllib.request.urlopen("http://127.0.0.1:8001/health", timeout=1); print("ok")' ; then
-                READY=1
-                break
-              fi
-              sleep 1
-            done
-            if [ "$READY" -ne 1 ]; then
-              echo "service did not become ready"
-              docker logs semapform-test --tail 200 || true
-              exit 1
+          echo "waiting for service to become ready inside container"
+          set -e
+          READY=0
+          for i in $(seq 1 20); do
+            echo "ready attempt $i"
+            if docker exec semapform-test python -c 'import urllib.request,sys; urllib.request.urlopen("http://127.0.0.1:8001/health", timeout=1); print("ok")' ; then
+              READY=1
+              break
             fi
-
-            # Run the repository smoke-test script inside the container and surface its output
-            echo "running test_api.py inside container"
-            docker exec semapform-test python test_api.py || true
-
-            # dump the last 200 lines of logs so this step always displays useful output
+            sleep 1
+          done
+          if [ "$READY" -ne 1 ]; then
+            echo "service did not become ready"
             docker logs semapform-test --tail 200 || true
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "running test_api.py inside container"
+          docker exec semapform-test python test_api.py || true
+
+          docker logs semapform-test --tail 200 || true
 
       - name: Cleanup container
         if: always()