diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
index 4e43ee6..049c0fd 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 name: CI
 
-# Per FabledRulebook/forgejo.md: "CI runs analyzers + short unit tests.
-# Integration tests that need real Postgres/ffmpeg run locally via
-# docker-compose." So this workflow deliberately does NOT spin up service
-# containers; DB-dependent tests are marked `@pytest.mark.integration` and
-# excluded with `-m "not integration"`. To run integration tests, operator
-# uses docker-compose locally.
+# CI policy (amends the older FabledRulebook/forgejo.md "lint + unit only"
+# stance — operator opted in to running integration in CI):
+#   - backend-lint-and-test: fast feedback — ruff + `pytest -m "not
+#     integration"`, no service containers.
+#   - frontend-build: vitest unit + vite build.
+#   - integration: spins up pgvector Postgres + Redis service containers,
+#     migrates a throwaway test DB, runs `pytest -m integration`. This is
+#     the first time the integration suite runs anywhere, so expect a
+#     debugging tail until it goes green.
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ruff lint
         run: ruff check backend/ tests/ alembic/
 
-      - name: Pytest (unit tests only — integration tests run locally)
+      - name: Pytest (unit only — integration runs in the integration job)
         run: pytest tests/ -v -m "not integration"
 
   frontend-build:
@@ -57,3 +60,50 @@ jobs:
       # convert to TS or add JSDoc.
       - run: npm run test:unit
       - run: npm run build
+
+  integration:
+    # First-ever execution of the integration suite. Postgres uses the same
+    # pgvector image as docker-compose; Redis backs the celery smoke tests.
+    # Assumes the python-ci runner executes jobs in a container so services
+    # are reachable by name (postgres/redis). If the runner runs jobs on the
+    # host instead, switch DB_HOST to localhost + add `ports:` mappings.
+    runs-on: python-ci
+    env:
+      DB_USER: fabledcurator
+      DB_PASSWORD: ci_integration
+      DB_HOST: postgres
+      DB_PORT: "5432"
+      DB_NAME: fabledcurator_test
+      SECRET_KEY: ci_integration_placeholder
+      CELERY_BROKER_URL: redis://redis:6379/0
+      CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND: redis://redis:6379/0
+    services:
+      postgres:
+        image: pgvector/pgvector:pg16
+        env:
+          POSTGRES_USER: fabledcurator
+          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ci_integration
+          POSTGRES_DB: fabledcurator_test
+        options: >-
+          --health-cmd "pg_isready -U fabledcurator"
+          --health-interval 10s
+          --health-timeout 5s
+          --health-retries 10
+      redis:
+        image: redis:7-alpine
+        options: >-
+          --health-cmd "redis-cli ping"
+          --health-interval 10s
+          --health-timeout 5s
+          --health-retries 10
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Install Python deps
+        run: pip install -r requirements.txt pytest pytest-asyncio
+
+      - name: Migrate the test database
+        run: alembic upgrade head
+
+      - name: Pytest (integration only)
+        run: pytest tests/ -v -m integration
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 3a476ff..eb26856 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ where = ["."]
 include = ["backend*"]
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
-# Per FabledRulebook/forgejo.md: CI runs lint + short unit tests only.
-# Integration tests that need a real Postgres/Redis run locally via
-# docker-compose; CI passes `-m "not integration"` to skip them.
+# The fast backend job runs `-m "not integration"`; the dedicated CI
+# `integration` job (pgvector Postgres + Redis service containers) runs
+# `-m integration`. Both also runnable locally via docker-compose.
 markers = [
-    "integration: tests that require a real Postgres/Redis. Run locally via docker-compose, skipped in CI.",
+    "integration: tests that require a real Postgres/Redis. Run by the CI integration job and locally via docker-compose.",
 ]