diff --git a/docs/node-fleet-setup.md b/docs/node-fleet-setup.md
index 3843d08..7aa9818 100644
--- a/docs/node-fleet-setup.md
+++ b/docs/node-fleet-setup.md
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ Use a branch ref for live defaults or a full commit SHA for fixed policy.
 The inventory ref used to fetch this list is independent of the defaults ref
 inside it. See [shared defaults](shared-defaults.md) for inheritance rules.
 
-This repository's [inventory](../defaults/node-repositories.json) lists ten public
-repositories: Hydra, OmegaConf, and eight personal Node projects. Repositories
-that are not installed yet remain listed so their missing setup stays visible.
+This repository's [inventory](../defaults/node-repositories.json) lists Hydra and
+OmegaConf. Repositories that are not installed yet can also remain in an
+inventory so their missing setup stays visible.
 Other maintainers can keep their own inventories in their own repositories; no
 registration here is required.
 
@@ -107,7 +107,12 @@ secrets:
 
 The optional token goes only to the scanner. The reporter uses the host's
 built-in token. Shared defaults sources remain public, as required by the
-maintenance resolver. No private key or secret content is inspected.
+maintenance resolver. Pinned central workflow repositories must also be public:
+the scanner reads their metadata and files without authentication. The optional
+token remains in use for the inventory, listed repositories, and their Actions
+status. This avoids applying the central organization's token policies to a
+credential intended for your private repositories. No private key or secret
+content is inspected.
 
 ## 3. Run and inspect results
 
diff --git a/node/runtime/fleet.py b/node/runtime/fleet.py
index e51b500..b0f55b7 100644
--- a/node/runtime/fleet.py
+++ b/node/runtime/fleet.py
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ def __init__(self, token=""):
         self.defaults_lock = Lock()
         # Defaults remain public and unauthenticated, as in the individual audit.
         self.cached_defaults = functools.cache(CONFIGURATION["public_read"])
+        # Public workflow metadata must not inherit private repository credentials.
+        self.public_github = GitHub() if token else self
 
     def read_defaults(self, url, accept="application/json"):
         # Resolve each shared ref once, even when several repositories need it.
@@ -442,7 +444,7 @@ def check_caller(root, config, selected, github):
         raise ValueError(
             "Caller must serialize runs with concurrency and cancel-in-progress: false"
         )
-    source = github.snapshot(match[1], match[2])
+    source = github.public_github.snapshot(match[1], match[2])
     contract = CONFIGURATION["json_object"](
         source.read("node/contract.json"), "pinned Node contract"
     )
diff --git a/node/tests/test_fleet_setup.py b/node/tests/test_fleet_setup.py
index 25207f1..edacdd7 100644
--- a/node/tests/test_fleet_setup.py
+++ b/node/tests/test_fleet_setup.py
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 import base64
 import copy
 import hashlib
+import io
 import json
 import runpy
 import subprocess
+import urllib.error
+import urllib.request
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from pathlib import Path
 from threading import Barrier, Event, Lock
@@ -884,6 +887,58 @@ def opener(handler):
     assert observed[0].get_header("Authorization") == "Bearer test-token"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("central_error", [None, 403])
+def test_public_workflow_reads_do_not_inherit_private_monitoring_token(
+    monkeypatch, central_error
+):
+    server = GitHub("npm")
+    observed = []
+
+    class Opener:
+        def open(self, request, timeout):
+            path = urlparse(request.full_url).path.lstrip("/")
+            if urlparse(request.full_url).query:
+                path += "?" + urlparse(request.full_url).query
+            authorization = request.get_header("Authorization")
+            observed.append((path, authorization))
+            if path.startswith("repos/owner/actions"):
+                # Reproduce an organization rejecting an otherwise valid PAT.
+                if authorization or central_error:
+                    raise urllib.error.HTTPError(
+                        request.full_url, 403, "organization policy", {}, None
+                    )
+            else:
+                # Inventory, project files and Actions state still need the PAT.
+                assert authorization == "Bearer test-token"
+            return io.BytesIO(json.dumps(server.get(path)).encode())
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(urllib.request, "build_opener", lambda handler: Opener())
+    github = FLEET["GitHub"]("test-token")
+    github.read_defaults = server.public
+    source = {
+        "repository": "owner/settings",
+        "path": "defaults/repos.json",
+        "ref": "main",
+    }
+    report = FLEET["check_fleet"](github, source)
+    result = report["results"][0]
+    assert result["status"] == ("unverified" if central_error else "ok")
+    central_reads = [
+        item for item in observed if item[0].startswith("repos/owner/actions")
+    ]
+    assert central_reads and all(auth is None for _, auth in central_reads)
+    if central_error:
+        assert "HTTP 403" in result["diagnostic"]
+        assert len(central_reads) == 1  # No retry with the private credential.
+    else:
+        assert any("git/blobs/" in path for path, _ in central_reads)
+        assert any("actions/workflows/" in path for path, _ in observed)
+        # Repeated installations share the unauthenticated pinned snapshot.
+        before = len(observed)
+        assert FLEET["check_fleet"](github, source)["status"] == "ok"
+        assert len(observed) == before
+
+
 def test_pinned_workflow_must_support_the_resolved_toolchain():
     github = GitHub()
     support = json.loads(github.repos["owner/actions"]["node/runtime/toolchain.json"])