diff --git a/docs/DEPLOY_CLOUDFLARE.md b/docs/DEPLOY_CLOUDFLARE.md
index 4d91a42..4c3c9ac 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOY_CLOUDFLARE.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOY_CLOUDFLARE.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ The deploy workflow is intended to run on the primary Forgejo host (not Codeberg
 - Fallback: Forgejo Actions secret `AGE_FORGE_SSH_KEY` set to a dedicated CI SSH private key that can decrypt `secrets/cloudflare-api-token.age`.
 
 Do not put a personal SSH or encryption key in Forgejo Actions. Use a scoped Cloudflare token or a dedicated CI identity.
+The legacy `AGE_FORGE_SSH_KEY` setter refuses `~/.ssh/id_ed25519` and requires
+`EVERY_CHANNEL_CONFIRM_DEDICATED_CI_KEY=I_UNDERSTAND_THIS_IS_A_DEDICATED_CI_KEY`
+so a personal key is not accidentally uploaded.
 
 CI and deploy workflows:
 
diff --git a/scripts/fj-set-age-key-secret.sh b/scripts/fj-set-age-key-secret.sh
index 93046d6..358f853 100755
--- a/scripts/fj-set-age-key-secret.sh
+++ b/scripts/fj-set-age-key-secret.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,20 @@ host="${EVERY_CHANNEL_FORGE_HOST:-https://git.every.channel}"
 repo="${EVERY_CHANNEL_FORGE_REPO:-every-channel/every.channel}"
 secret_name="${EVERY_CHANNEL_FORGE_AGE_SECRET_NAME:-AGE_FORGE_SSH_KEY}"
 key_path="${1:-$HOME/.config/every.channel/keys/founder_ed25519}"
+confirm="${EVERY_CHANNEL_CONFIRM_DEDICATED_CI_KEY:-}"
+
+if [[ "${confirm}" != "I_UNDERSTAND_THIS_IS_A_DEDICATED_CI_KEY" ]]; then
+  echo "error: refusing to set ${secret_name} without explicit dedicated-CI-key confirmation" >&2
+  echo "set EVERY_CHANNEL_CONFIRM_DEDICATED_CI_KEY=I_UNDERSTAND_THIS_IS_A_DEDICATED_CI_KEY only for a non-personal CI decrypt key" >&2
+  echo "preferred path: set CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN with scripts/fj-set-cloudflare-token-secret.sh" >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+if [[ "${key_path}" == "$HOME/.ssh/id_ed25519" || "${key_path}" == "${HOME}/.ssh/id_ed25519" ]]; then
+  echo "error: refusing to upload personal key path ${key_path}" >&2
+  echo "use a scoped CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN or a dedicated CI decrypt key instead" >&2
+  exit 2
+fi
 
 if [[ ! -f "${key_path}" ]]; then
   echo "error: key file not found: ${key_path}" >&2