diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/kata-runner-smoke.yml b/.gitea/workflows/kata-runner-smoke.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49ef2a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/kata-runner-smoke.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+name: kata-runner-smoke
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - poc/kata-runner-smoke
+    paths:
+      - .gitea/workflows/kata-runner-smoke.yml
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  smoke:
+    runs-on: kata-poc
+    steps:
+      - name: Verify isolated job environment
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          uname -a
+          test -f /.dockerenv
+          test ! -e /dev/kvm
+          printf 'kata ephemeral runner job ok\n'