diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index 5137453..caf0386 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ jobs:
           if ! command -v rsync >/dev/null 2>&1; then
             apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y rsync openssh-client
           fi
-          rsync --version | head -1
+          # Avoid `rsync --version | head` — head closing the pipe early sends
+          # SIGPIPE to rsync (exit 141) which trips `pipefail`. Print plainly.
+          ver=$(rsync --version | sed -n '1p')
+          echo "Using $ver"
 
       - name: Load deploy key
         run: |