diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
index 081b544..746c863 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
@@ -71,30 +71,45 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run integration tests
         run: python3 -m unittest discover -t . -s tests/integration -v
 
-  # Combined unit+integration coverage report (informational). See
-  # docs/decisions/0004-coverage-policy.md.
+  # Combined unit+integration coverage + the diff-coverage gate (the hard
+  # gate: new/changed lines >= 90%). See docs/decisions/0004-coverage-policy.md.
   #
-  # The hard diff-coverage gate (changed lines >= 90%) is DEFERRED: the
-  # Firecracker backend's VM/SSH orchestration is covered by the integration
-  # suite, which needs /dev/kvm + the provisioned TAP/nft pool — a
-  # container-based runner skips it and those lines read uncovered, so the
-  # gate can't pass here. Re-enabling it on a self-hosted KVM runner is
-  # tracked separately (see PRD 0069 / #348 and the ci-runner branch).
+  # This runs on a self-hosted KVM runner (label `kvm`), NOT ubuntu-latest,
+  # because the Firecracker backend's subprocess/VM orchestration
+  # (launch/boot/SSH/isolation-probe) is covered by the integration suite,
+  # and that suite needs `/dev/kvm` + the provisioned TAP/nft pool — which a
+  # container-based runner doesn't have. On such a runner the firecracker
+  # integration test skips and its ~230 orchestration lines read as
+  # uncovered, so the gate can't pass there.
+  #
+  # Runner prerequisites (provision once on the host; see the README
+  # "Firecracker on Linux" section): the `firecracker` binary on PATH,
+  # `/dev/kvm` accessible to the runner user, Docker, the cached guest
+  # kernel + static dropbear (BOT_BOTTLE_FC_KERNEL / BOT_BOTTLE_FC_DROPBEAR),
+  # and the network pool installed as the persistent systemd unit
+  # (`./cli.py backend setup --backend=firecracker`). The preflight step
+  # below fails fast with instructions if anything is missing.
   coverage:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: [self-hosted, kvm]
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+      - name: Preflight — Firecracker host is ready
+        run: |
+          command -v firecracker >/dev/null || {
+            echo "firecracker not on PATH — provision the runner (README: Firecracker on Linux)"; exit 1; }
+          test -e /dev/kvm || { echo "/dev/kvm missing — KVM not available on this runner"; exit 1; }
+          # `backend status` exits non-zero unless the TAP pool is up + no
+          # range overlap; it prints the exact `backend setup` fix.
+          python3 cli.py backend status --backend=firecracker
 
-      - name: Install dev requirements
-        run: python3 -m pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
-
-      - name: Combined coverage report (unit + integration)
+      - name: Combined coverage (unit + integration, incl. firecracker)
         run: PYTHON=python3 bash scripts/coverage.sh critical
+
+      - name: Diff-coverage gate (changed lines >= 90%)
+        run: |
+          git fetch --no-tags origin main:refs/remotes/origin/main
+          python3 scripts/diff_coverage.py --base origin/main --min 90
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c117e1a..26c5a2e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND=firecracker ./cli.py start <agent>
 
 > **NixOS:** enable `virtualisation.docker`, ensure the KVM module is loaded (`boot.kernelModules = [ "kvm-intel" ];` or `kvm-amd`), and add your user to the `kvm` and `docker` groups. For the network pool, consume the flake module — `imports = [ inputs.bot-bottle.nixosModules.firecracker-netpool ]; services.bot-bottle-firecracker = { enable = true; owner = "you"; };` — then `nixos-rebuild switch` (imperative nft/TAP rules don't survive a rebuild; channel users can `imports = [ <bot-bottle>/nix/firecracker-netpool.nix ]`). `firecracker` isn't in nixpkgs by default as a user binary — install the release binary (pin the version) and put it on `PATH`.
 
+> **CI:** the coverage gate (`.gitea/workflows/test.yml` → `coverage` job) runs on a self-hosted runner labelled `kvm`, because the Firecracker backend's VM/SSH orchestration is exercised only by the integration suite, which needs `/dev/kvm` + the provisioned pool (a container runner would skip it and read as uncovered). Provision that runner exactly like a normal Firecracker host — `firecracker` on `PATH`, `/dev/kvm`, Docker, the cached guest kernel + static dropbear, and the pool installed as the persistent systemd unit — then register it with the `kvm` label. The unit/lint jobs still run on `ubuntu-latest`.
+
 ```sh
 ./cli.py start <agent>   # builds the image on first run, drops you into claude
 ```