diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 4810657..d79c541 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ on:
     inputs:
       # WDIPL-Runner v0.2.12: only the first truthy workflow_call flag reached nested jobs; the rest
       # were empty. Use ONE comma-separated input so Act forwards a single string with all steps.
-      # Tokens: build, sonar, deploy (e.g. "build,sonar,deploy" or "build" only).
+      # Tokens: build, sonar, deploy (e.g. build,sonar,deploy). No spaces — WDIPL-Runner has no replace().
       ci_steps:
         type: string
         required: true
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ jobs:
 
   # 🔨 BUILD
   build:
-    if: ${{ contains(format(',{0},', replace(inputs.ci_steps, ' ', '')), ',build,') }}
+    if: ${{ contains(format(',{0},', inputs.ci_steps), ',build,') }}
     uses: Rajendra.Reddy/wdipl-actions/.gitea/workflows/build.yml@main
     with:
       tech_stack: ${{ inputs.tech_stack }}
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
 
   # 🔍 SONAR
   sonar:
-    if: ${{ contains(format(',{0},', replace(inputs.ci_steps, ' ', '')), ',sonar,') }}
+    if: ${{ contains(format(',{0},', inputs.ci_steps), ',sonar,') }}
     needs: build
     uses: Rajendra.Reddy/wdipl-actions/.gitea/workflows/quality.yml@main
     with:
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ jobs:
 
   # 🚀 DEPLOY (runs after build; sonar may be skipped)
   deploy:
-    if: ${{ always() && contains(format(',{0},', replace(inputs.ci_steps, ' ', '')), ',deploy,') && needs.build.result == 'success' && (needs.sonar.result == 'success' || needs.sonar.result == 'skipped') }}
+    if: ${{ always() && contains(format(',{0},', inputs.ci_steps), ',deploy,') && needs.build.result == 'success' && (needs.sonar.result == 'success' || needs.sonar.result == 'skipped') }}
     needs: [build, sonar]
     uses: Rajendra.Reddy/wdipl-actions/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml@main
     with:
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 255e508..fc00643 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
 | Variable              | What to set            |
 | --------------------- | ---------------------- |
 | tech_stack            | node / react / nestjs  |
-| ci_steps              | e.g. `build,sonar,deploy` or `build` only |
+| ci_steps              | e.g. `build,sonar,deploy` — **no spaces** (runner has no `replace()`) |
 | wait_for_quality_gate | `'true'` / `'false'` (quoted) |
 | app_path_beta         | path on beta server    |
 | app_path_staging      | path on staging server |