diff --git a/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/side_effect.yml b/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/side_effect.yml
index 2c80fac..bb4be54 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/side_effect.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/side_effect.yml
@@ -4,33 +4,47 @@
   become: true
   vars:
     runner_name: "lifecycle-test-runner"
+  pre_tasks:
+    - name: Check if systemd is available
+      ansible.builtin.stat:
+        path: /run/systemd/system
+      register: systemd_available
   tasks:
     - name: Stop gitea-runner systemd instance
       ansible.builtin.systemd:
         name: "gitea-runner@{{ runner_name }}"
         state: stopped
         daemon_reload: true
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
 
     - name: Disable gitea-runner systemd instance
       ansible.builtin.systemd:
         name: "gitea-runner@{{ runner_name }}"
         enabled: false
         daemon_reload: true
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
 
 - name: Re-enable and start runner
   hosts: all
   become: true
   vars:
     runner_name: "lifecycle-test-runner"
+  pre_tasks:
+    - name: Check if systemd is available
+      ansible.builtin.stat:
+        path: /run/systemd/system
+      register: systemd_available
   tasks:
     - name: Enable gitea-runner systemd instance
       ansible.builtin.systemd:
         name: "gitea-runner@{{ runner_name }}"
         enabled: true
         daemon_reload: true
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
 
     - name: Start gitea-runner systemd instance
       ansible.builtin.systemd:
         name: "gitea-runner@{{ runner_name }}"
         state: started
         daemon_reload: true
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
diff --git a/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/verify.yml b/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/verify.yml
index 79e185f..80176dd 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/verify.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule/lifecycle/verify.yml
@@ -20,16 +20,23 @@
           - template_stat.stat.exists
         fail_msg: "Systemd template unit is missing"
 
+    - name: Check if systemd is available
+      ansible.builtin.stat:
+        path: /run/systemd/system
+      register: systemd_available
+
     - name: Check instance is enabled
       ansible.builtin.systemd:
         name: "gitea-runner@lifecycle-test-runner"
       register: service_status
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
 
     - name: Assert instance is enabled
       ansible.builtin.assert:
         that:
           - service_status.status.LoadState == 'loaded'
         fail_msg: "Systemd instance is not loaded"
+      when: systemd_available.stat.exists
 
     - name: Check instance data directory exists after lifecycle
       ansible.builtin.stat: