diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 4f17240..9c146b2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -47,4 +47,10 @@ jobs:
         run: make setup
 
       - name: Run checks
+        env:
+          # Keep CI builds deterministic and secretless.
+          NEXT_TELEMETRY_DISABLED: "1"
+          # Clerk is required at Next build/prerender time in this repo.
+          # Use a dummy publishable key so forks/PRs can still validate.
+          NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY: "pk_test_00000000000000000000000000000000"
         run: make check