diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/review-check-tests.yml b/.gitea/workflows/review-check-tests.yml
index 8f37f0bab..86680601f 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/review-check-tests.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/review-check-tests.yml
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ jobs:
         # runners with internet access to package mirrors). Falls back to GitHub
         # binary download. GitHub releases may be blocked on some runner networks
         # (infra#241 follow-up).
-        # mc#1982: pre-existing continue-on-error mask; root-fix and remove, do not renew silently.
-        continue-on-error: true
         run: |
           if apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y -qq jq; then
             echo "::notice::jq installed via apt-get: $(jq --version)"
@@ -70,9 +68,10 @@ jobs:
             -o /usr/local/bin/jq && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/jq; then
             echo "::notice::jq binary downloaded: $(/usr/local/bin/jq --version)"
           else
-            echo "::warning::jq install failed — apt-get and GitHub download both failed."
+            echo "::error::jq install failed — apt-get and GitHub download both failed. review-check.sh regression tests cannot run without jq."
+            exit 1
           fi
-          jq --version 2>/dev/null || echo "::notice::jq not yet available — continuing"
+          jq --version
 
       - name: Run review-check.sh regression suite
         run: bash .gitea/scripts/tests/test_review_check.sh