diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
index 730d045d1..827c956a4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -159,8 +159,11 @@ jobs:
       # Fallback: keep the required check reported even when the Go path
       # filter deselects this job (skipped jobs never satisfy branch
       # protection and permanently block frontend-only PRs).
+      # The job default cwd (edge-server) does not exist when checkout was
+      # deselected; anchor the fallback at the repo root.
       - name: Report no-Go-changes skip (required check)
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result == 'success' && needs.changes.outputs.go != 'true' }}
+        working-directory: .
         run: |
           echo "skipped: no Go changes; reporting success for required check go-edge"
           exit 0
@@ -170,6 +173,7 @@ jobs:
       # the skipped real gates as green.
       - name: Fail when Go path filter failed
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result != 'success' }}
+        working-directory: .
         run: |
           echo "::error::changes job result: ${{ needs.changes.result }}; cannot decide Go gates for go-edge"
           exit 1
@@ -348,8 +352,11 @@ jobs:
       # Fallback: keep the required check reported even when the Go path
       # filter deselects this job (skipped jobs never satisfy branch
       # protection and permanently block frontend-only PRs).
+      # The job default cwd (hub-server) does not exist when checkout was
+      # deselected; anchor the fallback at the repo root.
       - name: Report no-Go-changes skip (required check)
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result == 'success' && needs.changes.outputs.go != 'true' }}
+        working-directory: .
         run: |
           echo "skipped: no Go changes; reporting success for required check go-hub"
           exit 0
@@ -359,6 +366,7 @@ jobs:
       # the skipped real gates as green.
       - name: Fail when Go path filter failed
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result != 'success' }}
+        working-directory: .
         run: |
           echo "::error::changes job result: ${{ needs.changes.result }}; cannot decide Go gates for go-hub"
           exit 1
diff --git a/scripts/verify/tests/verify-ci-gates.Tests.py b/scripts/verify/tests/verify-ci-gates.Tests.py
index c20a01ea8..9afa9cd8b 100644
--- a/scripts/verify/tests/verify-ci-gates.Tests.py
+++ b/scripts/verify/tests/verify-ci-gates.Tests.py
@@ -148,8 +148,11 @@ def restore_go_hub_job_path_filter(text: str) -> str:
     "      # Fallback: keep the required check reported even when the Go path\n"
     "      # filter deselects this job (skipped jobs never satisfy branch\n"
     "      # protection and permanently block frontend-only PRs).\n"
+    "      # The job default cwd (hub-server) does not exist when checkout was\n"
+    "      # deselected; anchor the fallback at the repo root.\n"
     "      - name: Report no-Go-changes skip (required check)\n"
     "        if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result == 'success' && needs.changes.outputs.go != 'true' }}\n"
+    "        working-directory: .\n"
     "        run: |\n"
     '          echo "skipped: no Go changes; reporting success for required check go-hub"\n'
     "          exit 0\n"
@@ -180,6 +183,7 @@ def remove_go_fallback_changes_success_guard(text: str) -> str:
     "      # the skipped real gates as green.\n"
     "      - name: Fail when Go path filter failed\n"
     "        if: ${{ !cancelled() && github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch' && needs.changes.result != 'success' }}\n"
+    "        working-directory: .\n"
     "        run: |\n"
     '          echo "::error::changes job result: ${{ needs.changes.result }}; cannot decide Go gates for go-hub"\n'
     "          exit 1\n"