diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-submit-ios.yml b/.github/workflows/build-submit-ios.yml
index 4b13c5b03b..3f5d4409b5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-submit-ios.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-submit-ios.yml
@@ -61,10 +61,16 @@ jobs:
         with:
           xcode-version: "26.4"
 
-      - name: ☕️ Setup Cocoapods
-        uses: maxim-lobanov/setup-cocoapods@8e97e1e98e6ccf42564fdf5622c8feec74199377 # v1.4.0
-        with:
-          version: 1.16.2
+      - name: ☕️ Assert Cocoapods version
+        run: |
+          EXPECTED=1.16.2
+          ACTUAL=$(pod --version)
+          if [ "$ACTUAL" != "$EXPECTED" ]; then
+            echo "Expected Cocoapods $EXPECTED but runner has $ACTUAL."
+            echo "The version ships preinstalled with the macOS runner image: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/macos/macos-26-Readme.md"
+            echo "If the runner image changed, update EXPECTED here or reinstall the pinned version."
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
       - name: 💾 Cache Pods
         uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/bundle-deploy-eas-update.yml b/.github/workflows/bundle-deploy-eas-update.yml
index 5185da34c0..cb3a1aac81 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bundle-deploy-eas-update.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bundle-deploy-eas-update.yml
@@ -197,10 +197,16 @@ jobs:
         with:
           xcode-version: "26.4"
 
-      - name: ☕️ Setup Cocoapods
-        uses: maxim-lobanov/setup-cocoapods@8e97e1e98e6ccf42564fdf5622c8feec74199377 # v1.4.0
-        with:
-          version: 1.16.2
+      - name: ☕️ Assert Cocoapods version
+        run: |
+          EXPECTED=1.16.2
+          ACTUAL=$(pod --version)
+          if [ "$ACTUAL" != "$EXPECTED" ]; then
+            echo "Expected Cocoapods $EXPECTED but runner has $ACTUAL."
+            echo "The version ships preinstalled with the macOS runner image: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/macos/macos-26-Readme.md"
+            echo "If the runner image changed, update EXPECTED here or reinstall the pinned version."
+            exit 1
+          fi
 
       - name: 💾 Cache Pods
         uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5