From 8ca0455be4ef2272e70348c62e8b760a232c4518 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Daniel Han <danielhanchen@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2026 05:47:41 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] studio/ci: sweep actions/cache v5 hardening across sibling
 smoke workflows (#5399)

* studio/ci: sweep actions/cache@v5 hardening across sibling smoke workflows

Follow-up to PR 5396, which fixed the same flake in
studio-windows-inference-smoke.yml. actions/cache@v5 has a recurring
mode where it logs `Cache hit for: <key>` and then exits non-zero
without extracting the archive (see actions/cache#1621 and github
community discussion #163260). 12 cache blocks across 8 sibling Studio
smoke workflows remained on the vulnerable one-step pattern and would
abort before priming HF_HOME / installing Studio on the same flake.

Apply the same restore + save split mechanically to every block:

  - actions/cache/restore@<v5.0.5 sha> with continue-on-error: true
  - Prime/Download gate widened to also fire on outcome != 'success'
    so the silent-restore-failure path re-downloads
  - actions/cache/save@<v5.0.5 sha> with continue-on-error: true,
    gated on the Prime/Download outcome so we only write a fresh entry
    when we actually rebuilt the directory

Same SHA-pinned action, same cache keys (character-identical), same
paths. Existing cache entries keep matching. Only behavior change is
that a transient restore-side or save-side failure now falls through
to a re-download instead of failing the job.

Files touched (12 cache blocks total):
  studio-api-smoke.yml             (1 block)
  studio-mac-api-smoke.yml         (1 block)
  studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml          (1 block)
  studio-ui-smoke.yml              (1 block)
  studio-windows-api-smoke.yml     (1 block)
  studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml      (1 block)
  studio-inference-smoke.yml       (3 blocks: HF, GGUF flat, HF+mmproj)
  studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml   (3 blocks: HF, GGUF flat, HF+mmproj)

Verification: all 12 single-step actions/cache@ uses removed, replaced
by 12 restore@ + 12 save@; every file parses as valid YAML.

* studio/ci: drop continue-on-error from cache/save steps

Reverting the save-side continue-on-error addition. Defensive masking
of save failures was correct in principle but loses signal:

  - cache/save@v5.0.5 already swallows ReserveCacheError (the most
    common save flake) as a non-fatal core.info, so the mask was
    rarely doing anything today.
  - A real save-side failure (sustained cache backend outage, blob
    server 5xx storm) is something we want to see, not hide. Without
    the signal we would see slow CI for days without knowing the cache
    layer is broken.
  - If save flakes start showing up in practice we add this back with
    concrete evidence.

The restore-side continue-on-error stays -- that is the actual fix
for actions/cache#1621 silent-restore-failures and removing it would
re-introduce the bug.
---
 .github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml        | 15 +++++--
 .github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml  | 45 +++++++++++++++----
 .github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml    | 15 +++++--
 .../workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml  | 45 +++++++++++++++----
 .github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml     | 15 +++++--
 .github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml         | 15 +++++--
 .../workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml    | 15 +++++--
 .github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml | 15 +++++--
 8 files changed, 144 insertions(+), 36 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
index 742cba9ed9..668111d1dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
@@ -69,9 +69,10 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           # Same key as studio-ui-smoke.yml so the two jobs share a
@@ -79,7 +80,8 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -88,6 +90,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
index 19e1ab9cc5..922d883cc9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
@@ -85,15 +85,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -102,6 +104,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -324,15 +333,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache GGUF model file
+      - name: Restore GGUF model file
         id: cache-gguf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: gguf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Download GGUF if cache miss
-        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: download-gguf
+        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-gguf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -341,6 +352,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE" --local-dir gguf-cache
 
+      - name: Save GGUF model file
+        if: always() && steps.download-gguf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: gguf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -632,15 +650,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF + mmproj
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -651,6 +671,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$MMPROJ_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
index 98596f374a..6a98776fa3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -73,6 +75,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
index 97efe3e74d..82438f0c27 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
@@ -79,15 +79,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -96,6 +98,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -318,15 +327,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache GGUF model file
+      - name: Restore GGUF model file
         id: cache-gguf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: gguf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Download GGUF if cache miss
-        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: download-gguf
+        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-gguf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -335,6 +346,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE" --local-dir gguf-cache
 
+      - name: Save GGUF model file
+        if: always() && steps.download-gguf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: gguf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -674,15 +692,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF + mmproj
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         # Authenticated + parallel: shared macos-14 NAT egress stalls
         # multi-GB anonymous downloads.
         env:
@@ -702,6 +722,13 @@ jobs:
           find hf-cache -name "$GGUF_FILE" -o -name "$MMPROJ_FILE" \
             | xargs -I{} ls -lhL {}
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
index c921ddf63e..df3654277f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -73,6 +75,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
index 756eea64b2..82496c3665 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -70,15 +70,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -87,6 +89,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
index d9ed5d5594..fd80377352 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
@@ -63,15 +63,17 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: '3.12'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -80,6 +82,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Pre-install Windows tweaks (npm 11 + Defender exclusions)
         shell: pwsh
         # See studio-windows-update-smoke.yml for the full rationale.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
index a5a4753ba5..6ee262163b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -72,15 +72,17 @@ jobs:
           # then fatal-errors with "Cache folder path is retrieved
           # for pip but doesn't exist on disk".
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -89,6 +91,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Pre-install Windows tweaks (npm 11 + Defender exclusions)
         shell: pwsh
         # See studio-windows-update-smoke.yml for the full rationale.