diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/branch-cleanup.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/branch-cleanup.yml
index 9d884e7..dd5ff56 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/branch-cleanup.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/branch-cleanup.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           BRANCH="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}"
           API="${{ vars.GITEA_URL || 'https://git.mokoconsulting.tech' }}/api/v1/repos/${{ github.repository }}/branches"
-          ENCODED=$(php -r "echo rawurlencode('${BRANCH}');")
+          # URL-encode the branch name's slashes (no PHP dependency on the runner)
+          ENCODED=$(printf '%s' "${BRANCH}" | sed 's|/|%2F|g')
 
           STATUS=$(curl -sf -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X DELETE \
             -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.MOKOGITEA_TOKEN }}" \
diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
index 92d2685..bb71ba4 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/ci-generic.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ jobs:
   lint:
     name: Lint & Validate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Skip on template repos (Template-*) — they hold placeholder scaffolding, not buildable source.
+    if: ${{ !startsWith(github.event.repository.name, 'Template-') }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -130,6 +132,8 @@ jobs:
     name: Tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: lint
+    # Skip on template repos (Template-*) — see lint job.
+    if: ${{ !startsWith(github.event.repository.name, 'Template-') }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
diff --git a/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml b/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
index c834bf5..5c735a7 100644
--- a/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
+++ b/.mokogitea/workflows/pr-check.yml
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ jobs:
   validate:
     name: Validate PR
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Skip on template repos (Template-*) — no real manifest/source/changelog to validate.
+    if: ${{ !startsWith(github.event.repository.name, 'Template-') }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout