diff --git a/models/actions/run_job.go b/models/actions/run_job.go
index b4cf1caa94..8090431059 100644
--- a/models/actions/run_job.go
+++ b/models/actions/run_job.go
@@ -192,6 +192,16 @@ func (job *ActionRunJob) LoadAttributes(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // ParseJob parses the job structure from the ActionRunJob.WorkflowPayload
 func (job *ActionRunJob) ParseJob() (*jobparser.Job, error) {
+	if job.IsMatrixDeferred {
+		// The needs were erased before the placeholder was persisted, so jobparser.Parse no longer
+		// recognises the raw matrix it still carries and would re-expand it: see ParseRawSingleWorkflow.
+		_, workflowJob, err := jobparser.ParseRawSingleWorkflow(job.WorkflowPayload)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("job %d deferred matrix placeholder: unable to parse: %w", job.ID, err)
+		}
+		return workflowJob, nil
+	}
+
 	// job.WorkflowPayload is a SingleWorkflow created from an ActionRun's workflow, which exactly contains this job's YAML definition.
 	// Ideally it shouldn't be called "Workflow", it is just a job with global workflow fields + trigger
 	parsedWorkflows, err := jobparser.Parse(job.WorkflowPayload)
diff --git a/models/actions/run_job_test.go b/models/actions/run_job_test.go
index 4437b5906d..5bc91e4cf5 100644
--- a/models/actions/run_job_test.go
+++ b/models/actions/run_job_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package actions
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"gitea.dev/models/db"
@@ -197,3 +198,43 @@ func TestCancelJobs_NestedBlockedReusableCaller(t *testing.T) {
 	gotRun := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &ActionRun{ID: run.ID})
 	assert.Equal(t, StatusCancelled, gotRun.Status, "run must aggregate to Cancelled, not stay Blocked")
 }
+
+func TestParseJobDeferredMatrixPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
+	// A placeholder is persisted with the raw matrix and without its needs, so routing its payload
+	// through jobparser.Parse re-expands that matrix. The job emitter reads `if:` (and so ParseJob)
+	// before it can expand the placeholder, and it only logs a parse failure: getting this wrong
+	// leaves the job Blocked on every pass, the run never finishes and its concurrency group is
+	// never released.
+	payload := func(matrix string) []byte {
+		return fmt.Appendf(nil, `name: test
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        %s
+    steps:
+      - run: echo
+`, matrix)
+	}
+
+	// The shape Parse happens to survive, so only the name tells the two paths apart. What Parse makes
+	// of every other shape is asserted in TestParseRawSingleWorkflowRoundTripsDeferredPlaceholder.
+	t.Run("a placeholder is read back, not re-expanded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		job := &ActionRunJob{ID: 1, JobID: "build", IsMatrixDeferred: true, WorkflowPayload: payload("version: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}")}
+		parsed, err := job.ParseJob()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, parsed)
+		assert.Equal(t, "build", parsed.Name)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("an expanded job still goes through the full parse", func(t *testing.T) {
+		job := &ActionRunJob{ID: 1, JobID: "build", WorkflowPayload: payload("version: [1]")}
+		parsed, err := job.ParseJob()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NotNil(t, parsed)
+		// Parse bakes the combination into the name, ParseRawSingleWorkflow would not.
+		assert.Equal(t, "build (1)", parsed.Name)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
index 5981d27d0c..d6ce23daa4 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser.go
@@ -32,11 +32,72 @@ func rawMatrixReadsNeeds(node *yaml.Node) bool {
 	return slices.ContainsFunc(node.Content, rawMatrixReadsNeeds)
 }
 
+// ParseRawSingleWorkflow decodes a SingleWorkflow payload into the workflow and its single job
+// without expanding `strategy.matrix`.
+//
+// A deferred-matrix placeholder's payload still carries the raw, unevaluated matrix, which Parse
+// would try to expand: depending on the matrix's shape that yields several workflows (a static
+// vector crossed with the unevaluated expression) or an error (an `include`/`exclude` that is still
+// a scalar), neither of which describes the one job the payload stands for.
+func ParseRawSingleWorkflow(payload []byte) (*SingleWorkflow, *Job, error) {
+	swf := &SingleWorkflow{}
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(payload, swf); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unmarshal single workflow: %w", err)
+	}
+	id, job := swf.Job()
+	if job == nil {
+		return nil, nil, errors.New("payload contains no job")
+	}
+	if job.Name == "" {
+		job.Name = id // Parse defaults it the same way, and callers use it as the job's display name
+	}
+	return swf, job, nil
+}
+
 // expressionReadsNeeds reports whether value holds a ${{ }} expression reading the needs context.
 // Every other context (github, vars, inputs, ...) is already available while planning, so deferring
 // those too would replace their combinations with one placeholder and change the commit status
 // contexts the run publishes, which a repository's required checks are configured against.
 func expressionReadsNeeds(value string) bool {
+	return expressionReadsContext(value, "needs")
+}
+
+// ExpressionReadsMatrix reports whether a job's `if:` reads the matrix context.
+// A deferred-matrix placeholder has no combination yet, so such an expression cannot be decided.
+func ExpressionReadsMatrix(ifValue string) bool {
+	return expressionReadsContext(asIfExpression(ifValue), "matrix")
+}
+
+// ExpressionIgnoresNeedResults reports whether a job's `if:` calls always(), failure() or cancelled(),
+// the status functions that run a job whatever its needs did rather than under the implicit success().
+// Keep in sync with act's exprparser, which owns the same list for the evaluation itself.
+func ExpressionIgnoresNeedResults(ifValue string) bool {
+	return expressionsMatch(asIfExpression(ifValue), func(node actionlint.ExprNode) bool {
+		call, ok := node.(*actionlint.FuncCallNode)
+		return ok && slices.Contains([]string{"always", "failure", "cancelled"}, strings.ToLower(call.Callee))
+	})
+}
+
+// asIfExpression wraps an `if:` that omits the `${{ }}`, which GitHub evaluates as one expression anyway.
+// `if:` is the only field with that exception: every other value is interpolated, so a bare matrix or
+// `runs-on` is a literal there and must not be parsed as an expression.
+func asIfExpression(ifValue string) string {
+	if ifValue == "" || strings.Contains(ifValue, "${{") {
+		return ifValue
+	}
+	return "${{ " + ifValue + " }}"
+}
+
+// expressionReadsContext reports whether value holds a ${{ }} expression reading the named context.
+func expressionReadsContext(value, contextName string) bool {
+	return expressionsMatch(value, func(node actionlint.ExprNode) bool {
+		variable, ok := node.(*actionlint.VariableNode)
+		return ok && strings.EqualFold(variable.Name, contextName)
+	})
+}
+
+// expressionsMatch reports whether any ${{ }} expression in value holds a node the predicate accepts.
+func expressionsMatch(value string, match func(node actionlint.ExprNode) bool) bool {
 	for rest := value; ; {
 		_, after, found := strings.Cut(rest, "${{")
 		if !found {
@@ -48,13 +109,13 @@ func expressionReadsNeeds(value string) bool {
 		if err != nil {
 			return true // unparseable here, let the expansion report it against the real values
 		}
-		readsNeeds := false
+		matched := false
 		actionlint.VisitExprNode(expr, func(node, _ actionlint.ExprNode, entering bool) {
-			if variable, ok := node.(*actionlint.VariableNode); entering && ok && strings.EqualFold(variable.Name, "needs") {
-				readsNeeds = true
+			if entering && match(node) {
+				matched = true
 			}
 		})
-		if readsNeeds {
+		if matched {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
@@ -124,7 +185,7 @@ func Parse(content []byte, options ...ParseOption) ([]*SingleWorkflow, error) {
 			}
 		}
 		for _, combo := range combos {
-			swf := workflow.cloneHeader()
+			swf := workflow.CloneHeader()
 			if err := swf.SetJob(id, combo); err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("SetJob: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -134,8 +195,8 @@ func Parse(content []byte, options ...ParseOption) ([]*SingleWorkflow, error) {
 	return ret, nil
 }
 
-// cloneHeader returns a copy of w with its workflow-global fields but no jobs.
-func (w *SingleWorkflow) cloneHeader() *SingleWorkflow {
+// CloneHeader returns a copy of w with its workflow-global fields but no jobs.
+func (w *SingleWorkflow) CloneHeader() *SingleWorkflow {
 	return &SingleWorkflow{
 		Name:           w.Name,
 		RawOn:          w.RawOn,
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
index 96749f9c28..00fc4bdc22 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/jobparser_test.go
@@ -236,23 +236,168 @@ func TestExpandMatrixWithNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// evaluateJobIf builds a one-job workflow around the given `matrix:` value and `if:`, and decides it.
+func evaluateJobIf(t *testing.T, matrixYAML, ifExpr string, deferred bool) (bool, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	var strategy Strategy
+	require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(fmt.Appendf(nil, "matrix:\n  %s\n", matrixYAML), &strategy))
+	job := &Job{Name: "build", Strategy: strategy}
+	require.NoError(t, job.If.Encode(ifExpr))
+	return EvaluateJobIfExpression("build", job, map[string]any{}, map[string]*JobResult{"build": {}}, nil, nil, deferred)
+}
+
 func TestRejectsUnevaluatedMatrixFilters(t *testing.T) {
 	// act dereferences include/exclude entries as mappings without checking, so an unevaluated
-	// expression panics there. Every entry point into act's matrix expansion must reject it: Parse
-	// sees one in a workflow file and in a deferred placeholder's payload, and the emitter reads a
-	// placeholder's `if:` while its matrix is still raw.
+	// expression panics there. Every entry point into act's matrix expansion must reject it. The
+	// expression here reads `vars`, which is available while planning, so the job is not deferred and
+	// nothing will ever resolve the filter: the error is the right answer at both entry points.
+	// A deferred placeholder is the other case, covered by TestEvaluateJobIfExpressionLeavesRawMatrixUnavailable.
 	for _, filter := range []string{"include", "exclude"} {
 		t.Run(filter, func(t *testing.T) {
 			_, err := Parse(fmt.Appendf(nil,
 				"name: t\non: push\njobs:\n  build:\n    runs-on: ubuntu-latest\n    strategy:\n      matrix:\n        os: [a]\n        %s: ${{ fromJson(vars.MATRIX) }}\n    steps: [{run: echo}]\n", filter))
 			require.ErrorContains(t, err, "must be a list of mappings")
 
-			var strategy Strategy
-			require.NoError(t, yaml.Unmarshal(fmt.Appendf(nil, "matrix:\n  os: [a]\n  %s: ${{ fromJson(vars.MATRIX) }}\n", filter), &strategy))
-			job := &Job{Name: "build", Strategy: strategy}
-			require.NoError(t, job.If.Encode("${{ true }}"))
-			_, err = EvaluateJobIfExpression("build", job, map[string]any{}, map[string]*JobResult{"build": {}}, nil, nil)
+			_, err = evaluateJobIf(t, fmt.Sprintf("os: [a]\n  %s: ${{ fromJson(vars.MATRIX) }}", filter), "${{ true }}", false)
 			require.ErrorContains(t, err, "must be a list of mappings")
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestParseRawSingleWorkflowRoundTripsDeferredPlaceholder(t *testing.T) {
+	// The server persists a placeholder the way insertRunJob does: erase the needs, then marshal.
+	// Reading it back must yield that one job again. Parse cannot do it: it only keeps a matrix raw
+	// while the job still declares needs, so on the stored payload it falls through to expanding the
+	// raw matrix instead - which either fails or splits the placeholder into several workflows, and
+	// in both cases leaves the job unexpandable for good.
+	const workflow = `
+on: push
+jobs:
+  setup:
+    steps: [{run: echo}]
+  build:
+    needs: setup
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        %s
+    steps: [{run: echo}]
+`
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		name        string
+		matrix      string
+		parseCount  int    // what Parse makes of the stored payload
+		parseErrHas string // ... or the error it fails with
+	}{
+		// The canonical GitHub dynamic-matrix idiom. act dereferences include entries as mappings, so
+		// validateMatrixFilters rejects the still-scalar expression outright.
+		{name: "include expression", matrix: "include: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}", parseErrHas: "must be a list of mappings"},
+		// A static vector crossed with the unevaluated expression: one workflow per static value.
+		{name: "static vector and expression", matrix: "os: [a, b]\n        version: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}", parseCount: 2},
+		// The single-key case the feature shipped with happens to survive Parse, so it must keep working.
+		{name: "single expression vector", matrix: "version: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}", parseCount: 1},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			planned, err := Parse(fmt.Appendf(nil, workflow, tt.matrix))
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			var payload []byte
+			for _, w := range planned {
+				id, job := w.Job()
+				if id != "build" {
+					continue
+				}
+				require.True(t, HasDeferredMatrix(job), "build must be planned as a placeholder")
+				require.NoError(t, w.SetJob(id, job.EraseNeeds()))
+				payload, err = w.Marshal()
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+			require.NotEmpty(t, payload, "no placeholder was planned for build")
+
+			// The stored payload keeps the raw matrix, but no longer the needs that made Parse defer it.
+			_, job, err := ParseRawSingleWorkflow(payload)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, "build", job.Name)
+			// The needs are gone, which is exactly why Parse no longer defers this payload.
+			assert.Empty(t, job.Needs())
+			assert.False(t, HasDeferredMatrix(job))
+
+			// Guard the reason ParseRawSingleWorkflow exists, so a future Parse change cannot quietly
+			// make the placeholder re-expandable again without this being noticed.
+			reparsed, err := Parse(payload)
+			if tt.parseErrHas != "" {
+				require.ErrorContains(t, err, tt.parseErrHas)
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				assert.Len(t, reparsed, tt.parseCount)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEvaluateJobIfExpressionLeavesRawMatrixUnavailable(t *testing.T) {
+	// A placeholder's `if:` is read before its matrix can be resolved. `matrix.*` has to be absent
+	// there: binding it to the expression's own source text would decide the job against a value no
+	// combination ever has, and an include/exclude that is still a scalar cannot be read at all.
+	t.Run("include expression is not read", func(t *testing.T) {
+		run, err := evaluateJobIf(t, "include: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}", "${{ true }}", true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, run)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("matrix context is null, not the raw expression", func(t *testing.T) {
+		const matrix = "version: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}"
+		run, err := evaluateJobIf(t, matrix, "${{ matrix.version == null }}", true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, run)
+
+		run, err = evaluateJobIf(t, matrix, "${{ matrix.version == '${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}' }}", true)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.False(t, run)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("an expanded job still reads its combination", func(t *testing.T) {
+		run, err := evaluateJobIf(t, "version: [1]", "${{ matrix.version == 1 }}", false)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, run)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestExpressionReadsMatrix(t *testing.T) {
+	// Erring toward true only postpones the `if:` to the pass that has the combination, which decides it correctly anyway.
+	for value, want := range map[string]bool{
+		"":                                  false,
+		"true":                              false, // a bare literal is an expression too, it just reads nothing
+		"${{ always() }}":                   false,
+		"${{ needs.setup.result == 'ok' }}": false,
+		"${{ vars.MATRIX }}":                false, // a name that merely looks like the context
+		"${{ matrix.os }}":                  true,
+		"${{ MATRIX.os }}":                  true, // contexts are case-insensitive
+		"${{ always() && matrix.os == 1 }}": true,
+		"${{ contains(matrix.tags, 'a') }}": true,
+		"${{ toJSON(matrix) }}":             true, // the whole context, not a property of it
+		"${{ vars.A }}${{ matrix.os }}":     true, // only the second of two expressions reads it
+		"${{ matrix.os == }}":               true, // unparseable, postpone rather than decide it here
+		// An `if:` may omit the `${{ }}`, and is evaluated as one expression either way.
+		"matrix.os == 'a'":           true,
+		"needs.setup.result == 'ok'": false,
+	} {
+		assert.Equal(t, want, ExpressionReadsMatrix(value), "value %q", value)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExpressionIgnoresNeedResults(t *testing.T) {
+	for value, want := range map[string]bool{
+		"":                             false,
+		"${{ matrix.os == 'a' }}":      false,
+		"${{ success() }}":             false, // the implicit gate, so the fallback already matches it
+		"${{ always() }}":              true,
+		"${{ ALWAYS() && matrix.os }}": true, // function names are case-insensitive
+		"${{ failure() }}":             true,
+		"${{ cancelled() }}":           true,
+		"always() && matrix.os == 'a'": true, // the brace-less form of the same gate
+		"${{ vars.always }}":           false,
+	} {
+		assert.Equal(t, want, ExpressionIgnoresNeedResults(value), "value %q", value)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/model.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/model.go
index 6b423c038e..4406bb7715 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/model.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/model.go
@@ -497,7 +497,8 @@ func ParseRawOn(rawOn *yaml.Node) ([]*Event, error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func EvaluateJobIfExpression(jobID string, job *Job, gitCtx map[string]any, results map[string]*JobResult, vars map[string]string, inputs map[string]any) (bool, error) {
+// EvaluateJobIfExpression evaluates a job's `if:`.
+func EvaluateJobIfExpression(jobID string, job *Job, gitCtx map[string]any, results map[string]*JobResult, vars map[string]string, inputs map[string]any, matrixDeferred bool) (bool, error) {
 	actJob := &model.Job{
 		Strategy: &model.Strategy{
 			FailFastString:    job.Strategy.FailFastString,
@@ -509,13 +510,20 @@ func EvaluateJobIfExpression(jobID string, job *Job, gitCtx map[string]any, resu
 	// otherwise `matrix.*` references in `if:` evaluate to null.
 	// GetMatrixes always returns at least one element (an empty map for a job without a matrix),
 	// so only a non-empty combination should populate `matrix.*`, leaving it nil otherwise.
+	//
+	// A deferred-matrix placeholder is the exception: its combinations do not exist yet, and reading the
+	// raw matrix here would either fail outright (an `include` that is still a scalar expression) or bind
+	// `matrix.*` to the expression's own source text. Leaving it nil is safe: the caller checks
+	// ExpressionReadsMatrix first, so an `if:` that reads `matrix.*` is deferred to the post-expansion pass.
 	var matrix map[string]any
-	matrixes, err := matrixesOf(actJob)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-	if len(matrixes) > 0 && len(matrixes[0]) > 0 {
-		matrix = matrixes[0]
+	if !matrixDeferred {
+		matrixes, err := matrixesOf(actJob)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if len(matrixes) > 0 && len(matrixes[0]) > 0 {
+			matrix = matrixes[0]
+		}
 	}
 	evaluator := NewExpressionEvaluator(NewInterpeter(jobID, actJob, matrix, toGitContext(gitCtx), results, vars, inputs))
 	expr, err := rewriteSubExpression(job.If.Value, false)
diff --git a/modules/actions/jobparser/model_test.go b/modules/actions/jobparser/model_test.go
index 23d7489fed..3ceb3f196f 100644
--- a/modules/actions/jobparser/model_test.go
+++ b/modules/actions/jobparser/model_test.go
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ jobs:
 			got := make(map[string]bool, len(swfs))
 			for _, swf := range swfs {
 				id, job := swf.Job()
-				shouldRun, err := EvaluateJobIfExpression(id, job, map[string]any{}, map[string]*JobResult{id: {}}, nil, nil)
+				shouldRun, err := EvaluateJobIfExpression(id, job, map[string]any{}, map[string]*JobResult{id: {}}, nil, nil, false)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				got[job.Name] = shouldRun
 			}
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ jobs:
 				"job1": {Result: kase.needResult},
 				"job2": {Needs: []string{"job1"}},
 			}
-			got, err := EvaluateJobIfExpression("job2", job2, map[string]any{}, results, nil, nil)
+			got, err := EvaluateJobIfExpression("job2", job2, map[string]any{}, results, nil, nil, false)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, kase.expected, got)
 		})
diff --git a/services/actions/helper.go b/services/actions/helper.go
index 5c85823fac..3c55169579 100644
--- a/services/actions/helper.go
+++ b/services/actions/helper.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.dev/modules/actions/jobparser"
 	"gitea.dev/modules/json"
 	api "gitea.dev/modules/structs"
+	"gitea.dev/modules/util"
 )
 
 func getWorkflowDispatchInputsFromRun(run *actions_model.ActionRun) (map[string]any, error) {
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ func getInputsForJob(ctx context.Context, run *actions_model.ActionRun, job *act
 	}
 	var p api.WorkflowCallPayload
 	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(caller.CallPayload), &p); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("decode caller %d payload: %w", caller.ID, err)
+		return nil, util.NewInvalidArgumentErrorf("decode caller %d payload: %v", caller.ID, err)
 	}
 	if p.Inputs == nil {
 		return map[string]any{}, nil
@@ -60,6 +61,12 @@ func evaluateJobIf(ctx context.Context, run *actions_model.ActionRun, attempt *a
 	if len(parsedJob.If.Value) == 0 {
 		return allNeedsSucceed, nil
 	}
+	// A deferred-matrix placeholder has no combination yet, so an `if:` reading `matrix.*` can only be
+	// decided by the emitter's post-expansion pass, against each combination's own values.
+	// always()/failure()/cancelled() opt out of the needs gate this falls back to.
+	if job.IsMatrixDeferred && jobparser.ExpressionReadsMatrix(parsedJob.If.Value) {
+		return allNeedsSucceed || jobparser.ExpressionIgnoresNeedResults(parsedJob.If.Value), nil
+	}
 	jobResults, err := findJobNeedsAndFillJobResults(ctx, job)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
@@ -77,7 +84,7 @@ func evaluateJobIf(ctx context.Context, run *actions_model.ActionRun, attempt *a
 		return false, err
 	}
 	gitCtx := GenerateGiteaContext(ctx, run, attempt, job)
-	return jobparser.EvaluateJobIfExpression(job.JobID, parsedJob, gitCtx, jobResults, vars, inputs)
+	return jobparser.EvaluateJobIfExpression(job.JobID, parsedJob, gitCtx, jobResults, vars, inputs, job.IsMatrixDeferred)
 }
 
 func findJobNeedsAndFillJobResults(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob) (map[string]*jobparser.JobResult, error) {
diff --git a/services/actions/helper_test.go b/services/actions/helper_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6172e44a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/actions/helper_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// Copyright 2026 The Gitea Authors. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package actions
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	actions_model "gitea.dev/models/actions"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestEvaluateJobIfDefersMatrixExpression(t *testing.T) {
+	// A placeholder's `if:` reading `matrix.*` can only be decided per combination once the matrix is expanded.
+
+	emptyRun := &actions_model.ActionRun{} // if the gate is removed, the emptyRun will cause an error
+	deferredJob := func(ifExpr string) *actions_model.ActionRunJob {
+		return &actions_model.ActionRunJob{
+			ID: 1, JobID: "build", Needs: []string{"setup"}, IsMatrixDeferred: true,
+			WorkflowPayload: fmt.Appendf(nil, `name: test
+on: push
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: %s
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        value: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup.outputs.m) }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo
+`, ifExpr),
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range []struct {
+		ifExpr string
+		// wantNeedsFailed is what the `if:` decides when the needs did not all succeed.
+		wantNeedsFailed bool
+	}{
+		// These hold only for a real combination, so none can be decided before the matrix expands,
+		// and the fallback is the needs gate: a job whose needs did not succeed is still skipped.
+		{ifExpr: "${{ matrix.value == 1 }}"},
+		{ifExpr: "matrix.value == 1"}, // an `if:` may omit the `${{ }}`
+		// always() asks to run whatever the needs did, so it must not fall back to their gate.
+		{ifExpr: "${{ always() && matrix.value == 1 }}", wantNeedsFailed: true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tt.ifExpr, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := evaluateJobIf(t.Context(), emptyRun, nil, deferredJob(tt.ifExpr), nil, true)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.True(t, got, "must reach the expansion that gates each combination on its own values")
+
+			got, err = evaluateJobIf(t.Context(), emptyRun, nil, deferredJob(tt.ifExpr), nil, false)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantNeedsFailed, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/services/actions/job_emitter.go b/services/actions/job_emitter.go
index 6e5f30a915..577bc66d89 100644
--- a/services/actions/job_emitter.go
+++ b/services/actions/job_emitter.go
@@ -361,6 +361,8 @@ type jobStatusResolver struct {
 	// matrixChanged is set when matrix expansion inserted siblings or failed a placeholder, both of
 	// which need a follow-up pass to resolve the dependents.
 	matrixChanged bool
+	// matrixInserted is set when matrix expansion inserted sibling rows, which Resolve stops on.
+	matrixInserted bool
 	// matrixUpdatedJobs holds jobs whose status matrix expansion persisted itself, so they are
 	// notified like the ones the caller updates from the resolved status map.
 	matrixUpdatedJobs []*actions_model.ActionRunJob
@@ -418,6 +420,14 @@ func (r *jobStatusResolver) Resolve(ctx context.Context) (map[int64]actions_mode
 			ret[k] = v
 			r.statuses[k] = v
 		}
+		if r.matrixInserted {
+			// Matrix expansion inserted sibling rows this round. They are not in statuses/needs, so
+			// another round would resolve a dependent of the expanded job against the placeholder's
+			// own combination alone: if that combination was just skipped by its `if:`, the dependent
+			// sees all its needs done and gets skipped before any sibling has even started. Stop here
+			// and let the re-emit, which reloads the full job set, resolve them.
+			return ret, nil
+		}
 	}
 	return ret, nil
 }
@@ -472,8 +482,8 @@ func (r *jobStatusResolver) resolve(ctx context.Context) (map[int64]actions_mode
 
 		// Decide whether the job runs at all before expanding a deferred matrix: a job whose needs
 		// failed or were skipped has to be skipped too, not failed for a matrix those needs never
-		// produced the outputs for. A job-level `if:` cannot read `matrix.*`, so it does not need
-		// the combination, unlike the concurrency expression evaluated below.
+		// produced the outputs for. An `if:` that reads `matrix.*` cannot be decided this early, so
+		// evaluateJobIf reduces it to that needs gate and the pass below decides it per combination.
 		shouldStartJob, err := evaluateJobIf(ctx, actionRunJob.Run, nil, actionRunJob, r.vars, allSucceed)
 		if err != nil {
 			// TODO: surface deterministic expression errors to users by failing the job with a message.
@@ -489,8 +499,10 @@ func (r *jobStatusResolver) resolve(ctx context.Context) (map[int64]actions_mode
 		wasDeferred := actionRunJob.IsMatrixDeferred
 		siblings, err := expandDeferredMatrix(ctx, actionRunJob, r.vars)
 		if err != nil {
-			// Aborting the pass is required: the placeholder is already claimed as the first
-			// combination, so committing here would drop the remaining ones for good.
+			// Aborting the pass is required: once the placeholder is claimed as the first combination,
+			// committing here would drop the remaining ones for good. Before the claim it is what gets
+			// the pass retried by the job-emitter queue, since a run whose needs are all done has
+			// nothing left to trigger another pass on its own.
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("expand matrix of job %d: %w", id, err)
 		}
 		if actionRunJob.Status != actions_model.StatusBlocked {
@@ -503,10 +515,12 @@ func (r *jobStatusResolver) resolve(ctx context.Context) (map[int64]actions_mode
 		if actionRunJob.IsMatrixDeferred {
 			continue // could not be expanded yet, it stays blocked and is retried on the next pass
 		}
-		r.matrixChanged = r.matrixChanged || len(siblings) > 0
+		if len(siblings) > 0 {
+			r.matrixChanged, r.matrixInserted = true, true
+		}
 		if wasDeferred {
-			// The `if:` above was decided against the raw matrix, so this row still has to be gated
-			// by its own combination like the siblings are on the next pass.
+			// This row is now the first combination, and the `if:` can be evaluated.
+			// Gate it on its own combination here, as the siblings will be on the next pass.
 			shouldStartJob, err := evaluateJobIf(ctx, actionRunJob.Run, nil, actionRunJob, r.vars, allSucceed)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Error("evaluateJobIf failed after matrix expansion, job will stay blocked: job: %d, err: %v", id, err)
diff --git a/services/actions/job_emitter_test.go b/services/actions/job_emitter_test.go
index f9930b6485..df4d74a12a 100644
--- a/services/actions/job_emitter_test.go
+++ b/services/actions/job_emitter_test.go
@@ -589,3 +589,39 @@ func Test_maxParallelReusableCallerLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, len(callers), statusCounts(callers)[actions_model.StatusSuccess])
 }
+
+// Test_jobStatusResolverStopsAfterMatrixInsert covers the invariant that keeps a dynamic matrix's
+// dependents honest: a round resolved after an insert would judge them against a job set that is
+// missing the siblings. See Resolve for why that is wrong.
+func Test_jobStatusResolverStopsAfterMatrixInsert(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := t.Context()
+
+	// build (2) stands for the expanded anchor: it reaches a terminal status this round, which is
+	// what would let report (3) resolve in the next one.
+	newChain := func() actions_model.ActionJobList {
+		return actions_model.ActionJobList{
+			{ID: 1, JobID: "generate", Status: actions_model.StatusFailure, WorkflowPayload: minimalWorkflowPayload("generate")},
+			{ID: 2, JobID: "build", Status: actions_model.StatusBlocked, Needs: []string{"generate"}, WorkflowPayload: minimalWorkflowPayload("build")},
+			{ID: 3, JobID: "report", Status: actions_model.StatusBlocked, Needs: []string{"build"}, WorkflowPayload: minimalWorkflowPayload("report")},
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Run("without an insert the whole chain resolves in one pass", func(t *testing.T) {
+		got, err := newJobStatusResolver(newChain(), nil).Resolve(ctx)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, map[int64]actions_model.Status{
+			2: actions_model.StatusSkipped,
+			3: actions_model.StatusSkipped,
+		}, got)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("an insert stops the pass before the dependents are resolved", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := newJobStatusResolver(newChain(), nil)
+		r.matrixInserted = true // as resolve() sets it once expansion has inserted siblings
+
+		got, err := r.Resolve(ctx)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, map[int64]actions_model.Status{2: actions_model.StatusSkipped}, got,
+			"report must wait for the re-emit, which sees the sibling combinations too")
+	})
+}
diff --git a/services/actions/matrix.go b/services/actions/matrix.go
index 86225a8b39..30e9bc9f6e 100644
--- a/services/actions/matrix.go
+++ b/services/actions/matrix.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"gitea.dev/modules/timeutil"
 	"gitea.dev/modules/util"
 
-	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v4"
 	"xorm.io/builder"
 )
 
@@ -28,16 +27,19 @@ import (
 //
 // It runs inside the caller's transaction (job_emitter's resolver) and must not open a nested
 // db.WithTx, which would reuse the ambient session and roll the whole emitter pass back on error.
-// The three outcomes are reported through the job itself:
+// The three outcomes are:
 //   - expanded: IsMatrixDeferred is cleared and the job stays StatusBlocked.
 //   - the workflow's fault (a matrix that cannot resolve, or one too large): a terminal status is
 //     persisted here, reported by the job leaving StatusBlocked. IsMatrixDeferred stays set, marking
 //     the payload as still unexpanded for a later rerun to re-derive.
-//   - not now: the job is left deferred and blocked for the next emitter pass to retry. This covers
-//     a transient failure before anything was written, and losing the claim to a concurrent pass.
+//   - not now: losing the claim to a concurrent pass leaves the job deferred and blocked, for the
+//     pass that won the claim to carry through.
 //
-// A returned error is reserved for a failure after the placeholder was claimed and must roll the
-// caller's transaction back: committing it would drop the remaining combinations for good.
+// Every other failure is returned, which aborts the emitter pass and lets the job-emitter queue retry
+// it. Swallowing one would strand the placeholder: nothing re-emits a run whose needs have all already
+// finished, so there would be no next pass to retry in. After the placeholder has been claimed a
+// returned error additionally has to roll the caller's transaction back, because committing it would
+// drop the remaining combinations for good.
 func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob, vars map[string]string) ([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob, error) {
 	if !job.IsMatrixDeferred {
 		return nil, nil
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 	// reusable caller (a job may be both) would drop: its branch only handles waiting and skipped.
 	// The commit status is unaffected by the surviving flag: suppression only applies while the job
 	// is not done.
-	failTerminal := func(cause error) ([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob, error) {
+	failTerminal := func(cause error) error {
 		log.Warn("Matrix expansion failed for job %d (JobID: %s): %v", job.ID, job.JobID, cause)
 		prevStatus, prevStopped := job.Status, job.Stopped
 		job.Status = actions_model.StatusFailure
@@ -58,52 +60,45 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 			builder.Eq{"is_matrix_deferred": true, "status": actions_model.StatusBlocked},
 			"status", "stopped")
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("fail deferred matrix job %d: %w", job.ID, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("fail deferred matrix job %d: %w", job.ID, err)
 		}
 		if affected != 1 {
 			// A concurrent pass already advanced the row. Restore the in-memory state so this pass
 			// does not report a failure that was never persisted.
 			job.Status, job.Stopped = prevStatus, prevStopped
 		}
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-
-	// retryLater leaves the placeholder untouched. It is only used before anything is written, so a
-	// transient failure neither fails the job nor aborts the emitter pass for the whole run.
-	retryLater := func(cause error) ([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob, error) {
-		log.Error("Matrix expansion of job %d (JobID: %s) postponed to the next pass: %v", job.ID, job.JobID, cause)
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	// The resolver only calls this once every need is done, as it does for job concurrency.
 	results, err := findJobNeedsAndFillJobResults(ctx, job)
 	if err != nil {
-		return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("find needs: %w", err))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("find needs: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if err := job.LoadAttributes(ctx); err != nil {
-		return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("load attributes: %w", err))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load attributes: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// The payload still carries the raw, unevaluated matrix: planning only erases the needs.
-	var baseSWF jobparser.SingleWorkflow
-	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(job.WorkflowPayload, &baseSWF); err != nil {
-		return failTerminal(fmt.Errorf("unmarshal payload: %w", err))
-	}
-	_, parsedJob := baseSWF.Job()
-	if parsedJob == nil {
-		return failTerminal(errors.New("payload contains no job"))
+	baseSWF, parsedJob, err := jobparser.ParseRawSingleWorkflow(job.WorkflowPayload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, failTerminal(fmt.Errorf("parse payload: %w", err))
 	}
 
 	// `strategy` may reference the inputs context as well as needs, so resolve it like `if:` does.
 	inputs, err := getInputsForJob(ctx, job.Run, job)
 	if err != nil {
-		return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("get inputs: %w", err))
+		if errors.Is(err, util.ErrInvalidArgument) {
+			// A malformed payload never becomes readable, so retrying would requeue the run forever.
+			return nil, failTerminal(fmt.Errorf("get inputs: %w", err))
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get inputs: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	existingJobs, err := actions_model.CountRunJobsByRunAndAttemptID(ctx, job.RunID, job.RunAttemptID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("count jobs of attempt %d: %w", job.RunAttemptID, err))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("count jobs of attempt %d: %w", job.RunAttemptID, err)
 	}
 	// The placeholder is reused as the first combination, so the attempt only grows by len-1.
 	maxCombinations := int(actions_model.MaxJobNumPerRun - existingJobs + 1)
@@ -111,12 +106,12 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 	giteaCtx := GenerateGiteaContext(ctx, job.Run, nil, job)
 	expandedJobs, err := jobparser.ExpandMatrixWithNeeds(job.JobID, parsedJob, giteaCtx.ToGitHubContext(), results, vars, inputs, maxCombinations)
 	if err != nil {
-		return failTerminal(fmt.Errorf("expand matrix: %w", err))
+		return nil, failTerminal(fmt.Errorf("expand matrix: %w", err))
 	}
 	// Combinations differ only in what the matrix feeds: the name, the payload, and a
 	// runs-on/continue-on-error that may interpolate matrix.*.
 	applyCombo := func(dst *actions_model.ActionRunJob, combo *jobparser.Job) error {
-		swf := baseSWF
+		swf := baseSWF.CloneHeader()
 		if err := swf.SetJob(job.JobID, combo.EraseNeeds()); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("set expanded job: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -142,7 +137,7 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 		// Only the placeholder keeps the raw payload, which is what identifies it as the group's anchor.
 		sibling.DeferredMatrixPayload = nil
 		if err := applyCombo(&sibling, combo); err != nil {
-			return failTerminal(err)
+			return nil, failTerminal(err)
 		}
 		siblings = append(siblings, &sibling)
 	}
@@ -154,13 +149,13 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 		if job.ParentJobID > 0 {
 			parent, err := actions_model.GetRunJobByRunAndID(ctx, job.RunID, job.ParentJobID)
 			if err != nil {
-				return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("load parent of job %d: %w", job.ID, err))
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("load parent of job %d: %w", job.ID, err)
 			}
 			parentAttemptJobID = parent.AttemptJobID
 		}
 		priorCombos, err := actions_model.GetPriorAttemptMatrixCombos(ctx, job.RunID, job.RunAttemptID, parentAttemptJobID, job.JobID)
 		if err != nil {
-			return retryLater(fmt.Errorf("lookup prior attempt combos of job %d: %w", job.ID, err))
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("lookup prior attempt combos of job %d: %w", job.ID, err)
 		}
 		usedIDs := container.SetOf(job.AttemptJobID)
 		for _, sibling := range siblings {
@@ -174,7 +169,7 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 	// conditional update is an atomic claim: only the caller that flips IsMatrixDeferred inserts.
 	beforeClaim := *job
 	if err := applyCombo(job, expandedJobs[0]); err != nil {
-		return failTerminal(err)
+		return nil, failTerminal(err)
 	}
 	job.IsMatrixDeferred = false
 	affected, err := actions_model.UpdateRunJob(ctx, job,
@@ -209,13 +204,9 @@ func expandDeferredMatrix(ctx context.Context, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob,
 
 // restoreDeferredMatrixPlaceholder rewinds a rerun clone of a dynamic-matrix combination into the unexpanded placeholder it grew from
 func restoreDeferredMatrixPlaceholder(clone *actions_model.ActionRunJob) error {
-	var swf jobparser.SingleWorkflow
-	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(clone.DeferredMatrixPayload, &swf); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unmarshal deferred matrix payload: %w", err)
-	}
-	_, parsed := swf.Job()
-	if parsed == nil {
-		return errors.New("deferred matrix payload contains no job")
+	_, parsed, err := jobparser.ParseRawSingleWorkflow(clone.DeferredMatrixPayload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("parse deferred matrix payload: %w", err)
 	}
 	clone.Name = util.EllipsisDisplayString(parsed.Name, 255)
 	clone.WorkflowPayload = slices.Clone(clone.DeferredMatrixPayload)
diff --git a/services/actions/matrix_test.go b/services/actions/matrix_test.go
index 853a886a55..aac0d47720 100644
--- a/services/actions/matrix_test.go
+++ b/services/actions/matrix_test.go
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ func TestExpandDeferredMatrix(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range []struct {
 		name, matrixValue string
 		outputs           map[string]string
+		prepare           func(t *testing.T, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob)
 	}{
 		{name: "unresolvable matrix", matrixValue: "${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.missing) }}"},
 		{
@@ -151,6 +152,16 @@ func TestExpandDeferredMatrix(t *testing.T) {
 			// the rows the setup plants, plus the placeholder the first combination reuses.
 			outputs: map[string]string{"many": "[" + strings.Repeat("0,", actions_model.MaxJobNumPerRun-2) + "0]"},
 		},
+		{
+			// A malformed payload fails the same way on every pass, so returning it would requeue the
+			// run forever instead of ever reaching a terminal status.
+			name:        "unreadable caller inputs",
+			matrixValue: "${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.values) }}",
+			prepare: func(t *testing.T, job *actions_model.ActionRunJob) {
+				_, err := db.Exec(t.Context(), "UPDATE `action_run_job` SET call_payload = ? WHERE id = ?", "{", job.ParentJobID)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			},
+		},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tt.name+" fails the job", func(t *testing.T) {
 			outputs := tt.outputs
@@ -158,6 +169,9 @@ func TestExpandDeferredMatrix(t *testing.T) {
 				outputs = map[string]string{"values": `["a","b","c"]`}
 			}
 			job := setupDeferredMatrixJob(t, tt.matrixValue, "", outputs)
+			if tt.prepare != nil {
+				tt.prepare(t, job)
+			}
 
 			siblings, err := expandDeferredMatrix(t.Context(), job, nil)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -191,7 +205,13 @@ func TestDeferredMatrixResolverGating(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "skipped need", needStatus: actions_model.StatusSkipped, wantBuilds: []string{"build"}},
 		{
 			name: "`if:` gated per combination", needStatus: actions_model.StatusSuccess,
-			jobIf: "${{ matrix.value != 'a' }}", outputs: map[string]string{"values": `["a","b"]`},
+			jobIf: "${{ matrix.value == 'b' }}", outputs: map[string]string{"values": `["a","b"]`},
+			wantBuilds: []string{"build (a)", "build (b)"},
+		},
+		{
+			// The same gate without the `${{ }}`, which must expand rather than skip the whole job.
+			name: "brace-less `if:` gated per combination", needStatus: actions_model.StatusSuccess,
+			jobIf: "matrix.value == 'b'", outputs: map[string]string{"values": `["a","b"]`},
 			wantBuilds: []string{"build (a)", "build (b)"},
 		},
 	} {
@@ -218,3 +238,34 @@ func TestDeferredMatrixResolverGating(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDeferredMatrixResolverDefersDependents(t *testing.T) {
+	require.NoError(t, unittest.PrepareTestDatabase())
+	ctx := t.Context()
+
+	// `build (a)` is skipped by the `if:` once it carries its own combination, `build (b)` runs.
+	build := setupDeferredMatrixJob(t, "${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.values) }}",
+		"${{ matrix.value != 'a' }}", map[string]string{"values": `["a","b"]`})
+
+	attemptJobID, err := actions_model.GetNextAttemptJobID(ctx, build.RunID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	report := &actions_model.ActionRunJob{
+		RunID: build.RunID, RunAttemptID: build.RunAttemptID, AttemptJobID: attemptJobID,
+		RepoID: build.RepoID, OwnerID: build.OwnerID, ParentJobID: build.ParentJobID,
+		JobID: "report", Name: "report", Status: actions_model.StatusBlocked,
+		Needs: []string{"build"}, WorkflowPayload: minimalWorkflowPayload("report"),
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, db.Insert(ctx, report))
+
+	jobs := runJobs(t, build.RunID, build.RunAttemptID)
+	require.NoError(t, jobs.LoadRuns(ctx, false))
+	updates, err := newJobStatusResolver(jobs, nil).Resolve(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, actions_model.StatusSkipped, updates[build.ID], "the combination the `if:` excludes")
+	assert.NotContains(t, updates, report.ID, "report must wait for the re-emit, which sees `build (b)` too")
+
+	// The sibling the pass would otherwise have resolved report against is there, and still to run.
+	sibling := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &actions_model.ActionRunJob{RunID: build.RunID, Name: "build (b)"})
+	assert.Equal(t, actions_model.StatusBlocked, sibling.Status)
+}
diff --git a/services/actions/max_parallel.go b/services/actions/max_parallel.go
index 16be7b0356..703a11385b 100644
--- a/services/actions/max_parallel.go
+++ b/services/actions/max_parallel.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package actions
 import (
 	"math"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	actions_model "gitea.dev/models/actions"
 	"gitea.dev/modules/log"
@@ -20,7 +21,15 @@ func parseMaxParallel(jobID, maxParallelString string) int {
 	}
 	maxParallel, err := strconv.ParseFloat(maxParallelString, 64)
 	if err != nil || math.IsNaN(maxParallel) {
-		log.Debug("job %s: unsupported max-parallel value %q, treating as unlimited", jobID, maxParallelString)
+		// Both fall back to unlimited, but an expression is a gap in Gitea while a non-number is the
+		// author's mistake, so dropping the cap must not be reported the same way.
+		if strings.Contains(maxParallelString, "${{") {
+			// TODO: evaluate it against the contexts `if:` and the matrix already resolve, so that an
+			// expression can actually cap a job instead of quietly disabling the cap.
+			log.Debug("job %s: max-parallel %q is an expression, which is not evaluated yet: treating as unlimited", jobID, maxParallelString)
+		} else {
+			log.Warn("job %s: max-parallel %q is not a number, treating as unlimited", jobID, maxParallelString)
+		}
 		return 0
 	}
 	// a run can never hold more jobs than MaxJobNumPerRun, so clamping there keeps the cast total
diff --git a/services/actions/max_parallel_test.go b/services/actions/max_parallel_test.go
index c7c45e4508..b571891066 100644
--- a/services/actions/max_parallel_test.go
+++ b/services/actions/max_parallel_test.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ func TestParseMaxParallel(t *testing.T) {
 		{"-1.5", 0},          // truncates to -1, which means unlimited
 		{"1e3", 256},         // clamped to MaxJobNumPerRun
 		{"nan", 0},           // must not reach the int cast
-		{"${{ vars.n }}", 0}, // expressions are not evaluated yet
-		{"abc", 0},
+		{"${{ vars.n }}", 0}, // expressions are not evaluated yet, logged as such
+		{"abc", 0},           // a plain workflow error, warned about rather than hidden
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		assert.Equal(t, tt.want, parseMaxParallel("job", tt.input), "input %q", tt.input)
diff --git a/services/actions/rerun.go b/services/actions/rerun.go
index 7aee11ba89..a89bd9cb5e 100644
--- a/services/actions/rerun.go
+++ b/services/actions/rerun.go
@@ -653,11 +653,14 @@ func (p *rerunPlan) collectMatrixCollapse() {
 		if p.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs.Contains(anchor.ID) {
 			continue
 		}
-		inRerunSet := slices.ContainsFunc(rows, func(j *actions_model.ActionRunJob) bool {
-			return p.rerunAttemptJobIDs.Contains(j.AttemptJobID)
-		})
-		if !inRerunSet {
-			continue // pass-through group, cloned as-is
+		// Gate on the anchor rather than on any row of the group: execRerunPlan only resets a row whose
+		// own AttemptJobID is in the rerun set, so restoring the placeholder onto an anchor it treats
+		// as pass-through would clone a row that keeps its old terminal status while carrying the raw,
+		// unexpanded payload, and nothing expands a job that is not blocked. An anchor can be left
+		// out of the rerun set while a sibling is in it: partially re-running the subtree of a
+		// matrix-expanded reusable caller puts that combination in ancestorAttemptJobIDs instead.
+		if !p.rerunAttemptJobIDs.Contains(anchor.AttemptJobID) {
+			continue // pass-through anchor, the group is cloned as-is
 		}
 		unexpanded := len(rows) == 1 && anchor.IsMatrixDeferred
 		if !unexpanded && !p.hasRerunDependency(anchor) {
diff --git a/services/actions/rerun_test.go b/services/actions/rerun_test.go
index b4cb4ad734..5cfeff0bb0 100644
--- a/services/actions/rerun_test.go
+++ b/services/actions/rerun_test.go
@@ -363,3 +363,93 @@ func rowIDsOf(jobs ...*actions_model.ActionRunJob) []int64 {
 	}
 	return out
 }
+
+func TestCollectMatrixCollapse(t *testing.T) {
+	// A dynamic-matrix group is the anchor (the combination that kept DeferredMatrixPayload) plus its
+	// sibling combinations. Collapsing it rewinds the anchor to an unexpanded placeholder and drops
+	// the siblings, so the new attempt re-derives the matrix from the fresh needs outputs.
+	matrixRow := func(id, attemptJobID int64, jobID string, parentID int64, isAnchor, isCaller bool, needs ...string) *actions_model.ActionRunJob {
+		job := templateJob(id, attemptJobID, jobID, parentID, isCaller, needs...)
+		if isAnchor {
+			job.DeferredMatrixPayload = []byte("name: t\non: push\njobs:\n  build:\n    steps: [{run: echo}]\n")
+		}
+		return job
+	}
+
+	t.Run("a rerun of the needs collapses the group", func(t *testing.T) {
+		generate := templateJob(101, 1, "generate", 0, false)
+		build1 := matrixRow(102, 2, "build", 0, true, false, "generate")
+		build2 := matrixRow(103, 3, "build", 0, false, false, "generate")
+		plan := &rerunPlan{templateJobs: []*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate, build1, build2}}
+		require.NoError(t, plan.expandRerunJobIDs([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate}))
+		plan.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs = plan.collectResetCallerDescendants()
+		plan.collectMatrixCollapse()
+
+		assert.ElementsMatch(t, rowIDsOf(build1), plan.matrixPlaceholderTemplateIDs.Values())
+		assert.ElementsMatch(t, rowIDsOf(build2), plan.matrixSiblingSkipTemplateIDs.Values())
+	})
+
+	t.Run("re-running only a combination keeps the group as it is", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// generate is not re-run, so its outputs still stand and the combinations stay valid.
+		generate := templateJob(101, 1, "generate", 0, false)
+		build1 := matrixRow(102, 2, "build", 0, true, false, "generate")
+		build2 := matrixRow(103, 3, "build", 0, false, false, "generate")
+		plan := &rerunPlan{templateJobs: []*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate, build1, build2}}
+		require.NoError(t, plan.expandRerunJobIDs([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob{build2}))
+		plan.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs = plan.collectResetCallerDescendants()
+		plan.collectMatrixCollapse()
+
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixPlaceholderTemplateIDs)
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixSiblingSkipTemplateIDs)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a pass-through anchor is never rewound", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// build is a matrix-expanded reusable caller. Re-running a job inside build (1)'s subtree
+		// together with generate leaves build (1) an ancestor rather than a rerun job, while build (2)
+		// does join the rerun set. execRerunPlan clones an ancestor with its old terminal status, so
+		// restoring the placeholder onto it would leave a done job holding the raw, unexpanded payload
+		// that nothing ever expands - and drop build (2) on top of it.
+		generate := templateJob(101, 1, "generate", 0, false)
+		build1 := matrixRow(102, 2, "build", 0, true, true, "generate")
+		build2 := matrixRow(103, 3, "build", 0, false, true, "generate")
+		inner := templateJob(104, 4, "inner", 102, false)
+		plan := &rerunPlan{templateJobs: []*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate, build1, build2, inner}}
+		require.NoError(t, plan.expandRerunJobIDs([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob{inner, generate}))
+		plan.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs = plan.collectResetCallerDescendants()
+
+		require.Contains(t, plan.ancestorAttemptJobIDs, build1.AttemptJobID)
+		require.NotContains(t, plan.rerunAttemptJobIDs, build1.AttemptJobID)
+		require.Contains(t, plan.rerunAttemptJobIDs, build2.AttemptJobID)
+
+		plan.collectMatrixCollapse()
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixPlaceholderTemplateIDs)
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixSiblingSkipTemplateIDs)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("an unexpanded placeholder is rewound whenever it is re-run", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// The previous attempt never got to expand it, so there is nothing to reuse.
+		generate := templateJob(101, 1, "generate", 0, false)
+		build := matrixRow(102, 2, "build", 0, true, false, "generate")
+		build.IsMatrixDeferred = true
+		plan := &rerunPlan{templateJobs: []*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate, build}}
+		require.NoError(t, plan.expandRerunJobIDs([]*actions_model.ActionRunJob{build}))
+		plan.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs = plan.collectResetCallerDescendants()
+		plan.collectMatrixCollapse()
+
+		assert.ElementsMatch(t, rowIDsOf(build), plan.matrixPlaceholderTemplateIDs.Values())
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixSiblingSkipTemplateIDs)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("a plan-time matrix is left alone", func(t *testing.T) {
+		generate := templateJob(101, 1, "generate", 0, false)
+		build1 := matrixRow(102, 2, "build", 0, false, false, "generate")
+		build2 := matrixRow(103, 3, "build", 0, false, false, "generate")
+		plan := &rerunPlan{templateJobs: []*actions_model.ActionRunJob{generate, build1, build2}}
+		require.NoError(t, plan.expandRerunJobIDs(nil))
+		plan.skipCloneTemplateJobIDs = plan.collectResetCallerDescendants()
+		plan.collectMatrixCollapse()
+
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixPlaceholderTemplateIDs)
+		assert.Empty(t, plan.matrixSiblingSkipTemplateIDs)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions_dynamic_matrix_test.go b/tests/integration/actions_dynamic_matrix_test.go
index 7c3b6341c4..657e8e3f7d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions_dynamic_matrix_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/actions_dynamic_matrix_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ import (
 // planned as a single placeholder and expanded once its dependency completes. `build` exercises the
 // expansion, `report` that a downstream job sees the combinations' outputs, `gated` and `partial` the
 // `if:` gates on either side of it, and `static` that a matrix expanded at plan time is left alone.
+// `included` covers the placeholder shapes that only survive as long as nothing re-parses their
+// payload: `include:` is still a scalar there, which act refuses to read at all.
+// `partial` and `strict` gate on `matrix.*` from either direction: neither may be decided before the
+// combinations exist, or the whole job is skipped instead of the combinations the gate excludes.
 // A full rerun then re-derives the matrix from the new attempt's outputs instead of reusing the
 // previous combinations, keeping the AttemptJobID of every combination that recurs.
 func TestDynamicMatrixEvaluation(t *testing.T) {
@@ -47,9 +51,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       matrix: ${{ steps.set.outputs.matrix }}
+      combos: ${{ steps.set.outputs.combos }}
     steps:
       - id: set
-        run: echo "matrix=[1,2]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+        run: |
+          echo "matrix=[1,2]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo 'combos=[{"name":"x"},{"name":"y"}]' >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
   build:
     needs: [generate]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -69,6 +76,14 @@ jobs:
         os: [a, b]
     steps:
       - run: echo "${{ matrix.os }}"
+  included:
+    needs: [generate]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        include: ${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.combos) }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo "${{ matrix.name }}"
   gated:
     needs: [generate]
     if: false
@@ -87,6 +102,15 @@ jobs:
         value: ${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.matrix) }}
     steps:
       - run: echo "${{ matrix.value }}"
+  strict:
+    needs: [generate]
+    if: matrix.value == 1
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        value: ${{ fromJson(needs.generate.outputs.matrix) }}
+    steps:
+      - run: echo "${{ matrix.value }}"
   report:
     needs: [build]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -101,7 +125,7 @@ jobs:
 		_, _, run := getTaskAndJobAndRunByTaskID(t, generateTask.Id)
 		runner.execTask(t, generateTask, &mockTaskOutcome{
 			result:  runnerv1.Result_RESULT_SUCCESS,
-			outputs: map[string]string{"matrix": "[1,2]"},
+			outputs: map[string]string{"matrix": "[1,2]", "combos": `[{"name":"x"},{"name":"y"}]`},
 		})
 
 		// execAttempt runs the attempt's remaining tasks, recording each job's name and AttemptJobID(order is not fixed).
@@ -127,13 +151,20 @@ jobs:
 			return names
 		}
 
-		seen := execAttempt(t, 6)
+		seen := execAttempt(t, 9)
 		firstAttemptIDs := maps.Clone(attemptJobIDs)
-		//  `gated` is decided before the matrix is touched, so it never expands and is skipped as one job；
-		//  `partial (1)` is decided afterwards, against its own combination.
-		assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{"build (1)", "build (2)", "static (a)", "static (b)", "partial (2)", "report"}, seen)
-		skipped := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &actions_model.ActionRunJob{RunID: run.ID, Name: "partial (1)"})
-		assert.Equal(t, actions_model.StatusSkipped, skipped.Status)
+		//  `gated` is decided before the matrix is touched, so it never expands and is skipped as one job;
+		//  `partial (1)` and `strict (2)` are decided afterwards, each against its own combination.
+		assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{
+			"build (1)", "build (2)", "included (x)", "included (y)",
+			"static (a)", "static (b)", "partial (2)", "strict (1)", "report",
+		}, seen)
+		for _, name := range []string{"partial (1)", "strict (2)"} {
+			skipped := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &actions_model.ActionRunJob{RunID: run.ID, Name: name})
+			assert.Equal(t, actions_model.StatusSkipped, skipped.Status)
+		}
+		// A gate reading `matrix.*` must not be decided against the unexpanded placeholder.
+		unittest.AssertNotExistsBean(t, &actions_model.ActionRunJob{RunID: run.ID, Name: "strict"})
 
 		buildNeed, ok := reportTask.Needs["build"]
 		require.True(t, ok, "report must see the expanded combinations as its 'build' need")
@@ -149,14 +180,16 @@ jobs:
 		require.Equal(t, "generate", getTaskJobNameByTaskID(t, token, user2.Name, apiRepo.Name, generateTask2.Id))
 		assert.Equal(t, "2", generateTask2.Context.GetFields()["run_attempt"].GetStringValue())
 		runner.execTask(t, generateTask2, &mockTaskOutcome{
-			result:  runnerv1.Result_RESULT_SUCCESS,
-			outputs: map[string]string{"matrix": "[1,2,3]"},
+			result: runnerv1.Result_RESULT_SUCCESS,
+			// `combos` is unchanged, so both `included` combinations recur and have to keep their AttemptJobIDs.
+			outputs: map[string]string{"matrix": "[1,2,3]", "combos": `[{"name":"x"},{"name":"y"}]`},
 		})
 
 		// The matrix now yields a third value, while `static` is cloned as-is rather than collapsed.
-		seenRerun := execAttempt(t, 8)
+		seenRerun := execAttempt(t, 11)
 		assert.ElementsMatch(t, []string{
-			"build (1)", "build (2)", "build (3)", "static (a)", "static (b)", "partial (2)", "partial (3)", "report",
+			"build (1)", "build (2)", "build (3)", "included (x)", "included (y)",
+			"static (a)", "static (b)", "partial (2)", "partial (3)", "strict (1)", "report",
 		}, seenRerun)
 		for name, firstID := range firstAttemptIDs {
 			assert.Equal(t, firstID, attemptJobIDs[name], "%s keeps its AttemptJobID across attempts", name)