diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
index 1618625..b572735 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -54,13 +54,21 @@ jobs:
           SHORT_SHA=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
           echo "short_sha=${SHORT_SHA}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
+      - name: Validate registry credentials
+        run: |
+          if [ -z "${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_USER }}" ] || [ -z "${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}" ]; then
+            echo "❌ ERROR: Registry secrets not configured"
+            echo "Set FORGEJO_REGISTRY_USER and FORGEJO_REGISTRY_TOKEN in repo settings"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✓ Registry credentials configured"
+
       - name: Registry login
         run: |
-          echo "${REGISTRY_TOKEN}" | docker login "${REGISTRY}" \
-            --username "${REGISTRY_USER}" --password-stdin
+          echo "${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}" | docker login "${{ env.REGISTRY }}" \
+            --username "${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_USER }}" --password-stdin
         env:
-          REGISTRY_USER: ${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_USER }}
-          REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.FORGEJO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+          DOCKER_CONFIG: /tmp/docker-config
 
       - name: Build Docker image
         run: |