diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/validate.yml b/.gitea/workflows/validate.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b972fca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+name: validate
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+  pull_request:
+jobs:
+  validate:
+    runs-on: fritzlab
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: check action.yaml exists and has required fields
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          test -f action.yaml || { echo "FATAL: action.yaml missing"; exit 1; }
+          grep -q "^name:" action.yaml
+          grep -q "^runs:" action.yaml
+          echo "action.yaml OK"