diff --git a/.github/workflows/brain-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/brain-ci.yml
index f0aeca87e..a68ef7be3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/brain-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/brain-ci.yml
@@ -496,7 +496,10 @@ jobs:
     name: 📋 Brain Health Report
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: [detect-build, brain-health-check, build-check, brain-unit, brain-integration, brain-stress, cli-smoke]
-    if: always()
+    # Run after a failed need, but not after the run itself was cancelled:
+    # a cancelled need is not `success`, so always() turned "a newer push
+    # replaced this run" into DAMAGE and a CRITICAL comment (#881).
+    if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
     timeout-minutes: 5
     steps:
       - name: Generate Health Report