diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 2d1ba27..92e7f4c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -13,42 +13,119 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          path: libfreemkv
+      # libfreemkv path-deps ../freemkv-unlock on the BRANCH tip (release.sh
+      # swaps it to a git tag only inside the tagged commit, then restores the
+      # path dep). CI checks out one repo, so the branch tip has never been
+      # buildable here — every green run you have ever seen was a tag build,
+      # and Windows/Linux were first compiled at release time.
+      #
+      # Both repos go into subdirectories because actions/checkout refuses a
+      # `path:` outside $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, and `../freemkv-unlock` is outside.
+      # With this layout the path dep resolves exactly as it does locally.
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          repository: freemkv/freemkv-unlock
+          ref: dev
+          path: freemkv-unlock
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.97.0
         with:
           components: clippy, rustfmt
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+        with:
+          workspaces: libfreemkv
       - run: cargo fmt --check
+        working-directory: libfreemkv
       # libfreemkv is a library — Cargo.lock is gitignored. --locked
       # would always fail on a fresh runner because there's no committed
       # lockfile to lock against. The binary crates (freemkv, autorip,
       # bdemu) track Cargo.lock and DO use --locked.
       - run: cargo clippy -- -D warnings
+        working-directory: libfreemkv
 
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          path: libfreemkv
+      # libfreemkv path-deps ../freemkv-unlock on the BRANCH tip (release.sh
+      # swaps it to a git tag only inside the tagged commit, then restores the
+      # path dep). CI checks out one repo, so the branch tip has never been
+      # buildable here — every green run you have ever seen was a tag build,
+      # and Windows/Linux were first compiled at release time.
+      #
+      # Both repos go into subdirectories because actions/checkout refuses a
+      # `path:` outside $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, and `../freemkv-unlock` is outside.
+      # With this layout the path dep resolves exactly as it does locally.
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          repository: freemkv/freemkv-unlock
+          ref: dev
+          path: freemkv-unlock
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.97.0
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+        with:
+          workspaces: libfreemkv
       - run: cargo test --tests
+        working-directory: libfreemkv
 
   check-macos:
     runs-on: macos-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          path: libfreemkv
+      # libfreemkv path-deps ../freemkv-unlock on the BRANCH tip (release.sh
+      # swaps it to a git tag only inside the tagged commit, then restores the
+      # path dep). CI checks out one repo, so the branch tip has never been
+      # buildable here — every green run you have ever seen was a tag build,
+      # and Windows/Linux were first compiled at release time.
+      #
+      # Both repos go into subdirectories because actions/checkout refuses a
+      # `path:` outside $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, and `../freemkv-unlock` is outside.
+      # With this layout the path dep resolves exactly as it does locally.
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          repository: freemkv/freemkv-unlock
+          ref: dev
+          path: freemkv-unlock
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.97.0
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+        with:
+          workspaces: libfreemkv
       - run: cargo check
+        working-directory: libfreemkv
 
   check-windows:
     runs-on: windows-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          path: libfreemkv
+      # libfreemkv path-deps ../freemkv-unlock on the BRANCH tip (release.sh
+      # swaps it to a git tag only inside the tagged commit, then restores the
+      # path dep). CI checks out one repo, so the branch tip has never been
+      # buildable here — every green run you have ever seen was a tag build,
+      # and Windows/Linux were first compiled at release time.
+      #
+      # Both repos go into subdirectories because actions/checkout refuses a
+      # `path:` outside $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, and `../freemkv-unlock` is outside.
+      # With this layout the path dep resolves exactly as it does locally.
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
+        with:
+          repository: freemkv/freemkv-unlock
+          ref: dev
+          path: freemkv-unlock
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.97.0
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+        with:
+          workspaces: libfreemkv
       # Build the tests (not just `cargo check`): catches errors in test
       # code and forces full codegen of the Windows-only SPTI transport
       # (src/scsi/windows.rs), which never compiles on the Linux/macOS dev
       # hosts. We don't `cargo test` here — the suite needs no drive but the
       # extra build is the value; running tests is covered by the Linux job.
       - run: cargo build --tests
+        working-directory: libfreemkv