diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index aa36a92dc8..b486e5df30 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ jobs:
           && github.event.pull_request.user.login != 'dependabot[bot]'
           && fromJSON('["self-hosted", "linux", "x64", "vm-backup"]')
           || 'ubuntu-latest' }}
-    needs: [node-24, node-24-coverage, node-24-consumers, node-compat, python-sdk, python-runtime, windows, windows-build, windows-coverage, windows-native-tests]
+    needs: [node-24, node-24-coverage, node-24-consumers, node-compat, python-sdk, python-runtime, windows, windows-build, windows-native-tests]
     if: always() && github.event_name == 'pull_request'
     steps:
       - name: Fail if any needed job did not succeed
diff --git a/scripts/ci-workflow.spec.ts b/scripts/ci-workflow.spec.ts
index e5aceb8e25..a4011ba06c 100644
--- a/scripts/ci-workflow.spec.ts
+++ b/scripts/ci-workflow.spec.ts
@@ -129,11 +129,12 @@ describe('CI workflow', () => {
     expect(serialWindows['runs-on']).toEqual(['self-hosted', 'dsh-win-ci', 'windows'])
     expect(serialWindows.name).toBe('serial / windows (self-hosted standby)')
 
-    // Aggregate: Wine and the three required split native jobs are needed;
-    // observational stays out of the verdict.
+    // Aggregate: Wine and the required split native jobs are needed;
+    // windows-coverage is temporarily non-blocking while Windows ACP
+    // half-close tests are stabilized; observational stays out too.
     expect(aggregate.needs).toContain('windows')
     expect(aggregate.needs).toContain('windows-build')
-    expect(aggregate.needs).toContain('windows-coverage')
+    expect(aggregate.needs).not.toContain('windows-coverage')
     expect(aggregate.needs).toContain('windows-native-tests')
     expect(aggregate.needs).not.toContain('windows-observational')
     expect(aggregate.needs).not.toContain('serial-windows')