diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 3ed1742..0c49eb9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -129,6 +129,18 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
+      - name: "Install 32-bit runtime libraries (i386)"
+        # A 32-bit (i686) Julia cannot exec on the 64-bit Linux runners without
+        # the i386 dynamic loader and C/C++ runtime. setup-julia invokes julia
+        # during its own step, so these must be installed BEFORE it — otherwise
+        # the run fails with `spawn .../x86/bin/julia ENOENT` (missing loader).
+        if: "${{ (inputs.julia-arch == 'x86' || inputs.julia-arch == 'i686') && runner.os == 'Linux' }}"
+        run: |
+          sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+            libc6:i386 libstdc++6:i386 libgcc-s1:i386 libatomic1:i386
+
       - name: "Setup Julia ${{ inputs.julia-version }}"
         uses: julia-actions/setup-julia@v3
         with:
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index dad6b96..0947e62 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -475,6 +475,22 @@ end
     end
 end
 
+# A 32-bit (x86/i686) Julia leg needs the i386 loader + C/C++ runtime installed
+# BEFORE setup-julia runs julia, or the run dies with `spawn .../x86/bin/julia
+# ENOENT`. Assert tests.yml has that install step, gates it on a 32-bit arch on
+# Linux, and orders it ahead of the Setup Julia step.
+@testset "tests.yml installs i386 runtime libs before setup-julia for 32-bit legs" begin
+    txt = read(joinpath(@__DIR__, "..", ".github", "workflows", "tests.yml"), String)
+    @test occursin("libc6:i386", txt)
+    @test occursin("dpkg --add-architecture i386", txt)
+    @test occursin("inputs.julia-arch == 'x86'", txt)
+    @test occursin("runner.os == 'Linux'", txt)
+    # Order: the i386 install must come before the setup-julia invocation.
+    i386_at = findfirst("libc6:i386", txt)
+    setup_at = findfirst("julia-actions/setup-julia", txt)
+    @test i386_at !== nothing && setup_at !== nothing && first(i386_at) < first(setup_at)
+end
+
 # develop_sources.jl: the [sources] develop helper used by tests.yml on Julia
 # <1.11. The pure path-collection (collect_source_paths) is tested here without
 # mutating any environment.