diff --git a/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml b/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..498694a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+name: actionlint
+
+# Lints GitHub Actions workflow YAML.
+#
+# Two roles:
+#   1. Self-CI for this repo — runs on PRs/pushes that touch
+#      `.github/workflows/**` or `actions/**/action.yml`. Catches
+#      input-contract regressions in the reusable workflows here
+#      before they reach a caller as `startup_failure` at runtime
+#      (platform-gitops#944).
+#   2. Reusable entry point — callers (service-template's `ci.yml`
+#      and any onboarded repo) `uses:` this workflow to lint their
+#      own `.github/workflows/`.
+#
+# actionlint itself doesn't fetch remote reusable workflows, so it
+# cannot cross-validate that a caller's input map matches this
+# repo's `workflow_call.inputs:` block. It still catches the lion's
+# share of input-drift incidents (typos, removed-input refs in the
+# reusable workflow, expression and shell errors in both ends).
+
+on:
+  workflow_call: {}
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
+    paths:
+      - '.github/workflows/**'
+      - 'actions/**/action.yml'
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+    paths:
+      - '.github/workflows/**'
+      - 'actions/**/action.yml'
+
+# Pinned upstream release. Bump deliberately; actionlint occasionally
+# tightens rules in a way that flags previously-passing workflows.
+env:
+  ACTIONLINT_VERSION: "1.7.7"
+  # Scope shellcheck to warning+ severity. The gate's job is to catch
+  # input-contract regressions and real shell bugs (SC2086 quoting,
+  # SC2046 word-splitting, etc.); info/style nitpicks (SC2295, SC2001,
+  # SC2129) in long-standing `run:` blocks aren't worth blocking PRs
+  # over. Drop this once the existing scripts are tidied up.
+  SHELLCHECK_OPTS: "-S warning"
+
+jobs:
+  actionlint:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+
+      - name: Install actionlint
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          bash <(curl -fsSL \
+            "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rhysd/actionlint/v${ACTIONLINT_VERSION}/scripts/download-actionlint.bash") \
+            "${ACTIONLINT_VERSION}"
+
+      - name: Run actionlint
+        run: ./actionlint -color
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 0fd0363..a5236c9 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Callers pin to `@main` (intentional — we own all consumers; pre-tagging adds o
 - `actions/<name>/action.yml` — composite actions. Used as `uses: pinpredict/.github/actions/<name>@main`.
 - `.github/workflows/<name>.yml` — reusable workflows. Used as `uses: pinpredict/.github/.github/workflows/<name>.yml@main`.
 
-There is no build, lint, or test step in this repo. Validate changes by running them against a real caller (open a draft PR in a service repo that points its `uses:` at your branch).
+Static lint: `actionlint.yml` runs on every PR that touches `.github/workflows/**` or `actions/**/action.yml`, catching workflow syntax / expression / shell / `workflow_call` input-contract errors before they reach a caller as a runtime `startup_failure`. No build or test step — semantic changes still need a draft PR in a real caller pointing its `uses:` at your branch.
 
 ## Architectural contracts other repos depend on
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 825eefc..3b58f6c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Why `.github` and not a dedicated `github-actions` repo: `.github` is *the* GitH
 | `docker-release.yml` | Matrix-based image build + push to ECR; per-service `image/<name>/X.Y.Z` git tags; aggregated GitHub Release. Caller passes a `matrix` input in the standard `{include:[...]}` shape. |
 | `chart-release.yml` | Auto-discovers `charts/*/`, bumps versions, packages, pushes to ECR OCI, tags `chart/<name>/X.Y.Z`. No caller inputs. |
 | `tag-config.yml` | Tags merges to main that touch `.platform/services/<svc>.yaml` with `vX.Y.Z+<svc>` (per-service Kargo `<svc>-config` Warehouse freight), then dispatches `service-config-tag` to platform-gitops so missing pointer files get seeded. |
+| `actionlint.yml` | Lints GitHub Actions workflow YAML with [`actionlint`](https://github.com/rhysd/actionlint) at a pinned version. Self-runs on this repo when PRs/pushes touch `.github/workflows/**` or `actions/**/action.yml`; callers reuse it via `uses: pinpredict/.github/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml@main`. |
 
 ### Composite actions (`actions/`)