diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a8b2b121bf..d5dff77668 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -791,9 +791,9 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       max-parallel: 4
       matrix: ${{ fromJSON(needs.scope.outputs.plan).templateMatrix }}
-    # Balanced like the rest: the pool advertises itself only while a runner is idle, so these legs
-    # take local slots when free and overflow to hosted otherwise, never queueing behind the pool.
-    runs-on: ${{ (github.event.pull_request.head.repo.fork || !vars.TN_RUNNER) && 'ubuntu-24.04' || vars.TN_RUNNER }}
+    # Hosted on purpose: template legs use hosted while the balancer routes builds and tests
+    # to the local pool, avoiding one routing variable sending the whole burst to a single pool.
+    runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 30
     env:
       TN_CI_SHA: ${{ needs.scope.outputs.candidate_sha }}
diff --git a/scripts/__tests__/ci-structure.spec.ts b/scripts/__tests__/ci-structure.spec.ts
index 5bb3835d9e..95a032cabc 100644
--- a/scripts/__tests__/ci-structure.spec.ts
+++ b/scripts/__tests__/ci-structure.spec.ts
@@ -1070,7 +1070,10 @@ describe("CI pipeline structure", () => {
   // release writes on GitHub's own machines.
   const hosted = new Map<string, ReadonlySet<string>>([
     // golden-path-template runs hosted: its dev server twice failed to answer on a local slot (run 37089715252).
-    [".github/workflows/ci.yml", new Set(["golden-path-template", "supply-chain"])],
+    [
+      ".github/workflows/ci.yml",
+      new Set(["golden-path-template", "supply-chain", "template-nonvisual"]),
+    ],
     [
       ".github/workflows/native-platforms.yml",
       // publish-android-v8 writes the release; android-emulator-parity is CPU-bound SwiftShader that