diff --git a/.github/workflows/code_style.yml b/.github/workflows/code_style.yml
index a0a8db92..d2c404d9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/code_style.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/code_style.yml
@@ -22,10 +22,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
-    - name: Install cargo-deny
-      run: cargo install cargo-deny
     - name: Run cargo deny
-      run: cargo deny check
+      uses: EmbarkStudios/cargo-deny-action@v2
 
   clippy:
     name: Clippy (${{ matrix.name }})
diff --git a/scripts/ci/quality_gate_strict.sh b/scripts/ci/quality_gate_strict.sh
index d12bb990..f66c20e0 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/quality_gate_strict.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/quality_gate_strict.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ echo "==> clippy (all warnings)"
 cargo clippy --locked --all --benches --tests --examples --all-features -- -D warnings
 
 echo "==> cargo deny"
-cargo deny check 2>/dev/null || echo "WARN: cargo-deny not installed, skipping"
+if command -v cargo-deny &>/dev/null; then
+    cargo deny check
+else
+    echo "WARN: cargo-deny not installed, skipping (install with: cargo install cargo-deny)"
+fi
 
 echo "==> tests"
 cargo test --locked