diff --git a/.github/workflows/github-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/github-ci.yml
index 18cf8c99bd5..c164066ca5e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/github-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/github-ci.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ permissions:
   contents: read
 
 jobs:
+
   test:
     name: General checks and tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
@@ -25,7 +26,10 @@ jobs:
         node-version: 22.20.0
 
     - name: Install dependencies
-      run: npm ci --engine-strict # --engine-strict is used to fail-fast if deps require node versions unsupported by the repo
+      run: npm ci
+
+    - name: Check Node.js engine compatibility
+      run: npm run check-engine
 
     - name: Check package.json "engines" consistency
       run: |
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index e849d341f04..0c94af61718 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 				"@commitlint/cli": "^20.1.0",
 				"@commitlint/config-conventional": "^20.0.0",
 				"@eslint/js": "^9.8.0",
+				"check-engine-light": "0.4.0",
 				"eslint": "^9.35.0",
 				"eslint-config-google": "^0.14.0",
 				"eslint-plugin-ava": "^15.1.0",
@@ -7220,6 +7221,26 @@
 				"url": "https://github.com/sponsors/wooorm"
 			}
 		},
+		"node_modules/check-engine-light": {
+			"version": "0.4.0",
+			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/check-engine-light/-/check-engine-light-0.4.0.tgz",
+			"integrity": "sha512-hZzy5cbJg52nDGgyiNDVpjzrIo6V49lpFVJ7hJiGpbWs9in5mtpRMqdM1VPptab2QTkwYdac98PaXSBmQqh1Tg==",
+			"dev": true,
+			"license": "ISC",
+			"dependencies": {
+				"debug": "^4.4.3",
+				"semver": "^7.7.3"
+			},
+			"bin": {
+				"check-engine-light": "lib/cli.js"
+			},
+			"engines": {
+				"node": "^20.11 || >=21.2"
+			},
+			"funding": {
+				"url": "https://ko-fi.com/textbook"
+			}
+		},
 		"node_modules/cheerio": {
 			"version": "1.0.0",
 			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cheerio/-/cheerio-1.0.0.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index eb4e2286596..064b1dd4754 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 		"unit": "npm run unit --workspaces --if-present",
 		"coverage": "npm run coverage --workspaces --if-present",
 		"knip": "knip --config knip.config.js",
+		"check-engine": "check-engine-light .",
 		"check-licenses": "licensee --errors-only",
 		"schema-generate": "npm run schema-generate --workspace=@ui5/documentation",
 		"generate-cli-doc": "npm run generate-cli-doc --workspace=@ui5/documentation"
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@
 		"globals": "^17.3.0",
 		"husky": "^9.1.7",
 		"knip": "^5.83.0",
-		"licensee": "^11.1.1"
+		"licensee": "^11.1.1",
+		"check-engine-light": "0.4.0"
 	},
 	"overrides": {
 		"pacote@<=20": {