diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 4cd84f6f54fe..bb4ed3d8a09e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ jobs:
 
   ci-checks:
     needs: [generate-matrix]
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ${{matrix.runner}}
     env:
       TAP_DRIVER_QUIET: 1
       FLUX_TEST_TIMEOUT: 300
@@ -211,10 +211,6 @@ jobs:
       uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
       if: matrix.needs_buildx
 
-    - name: setup qemu-user-static
-      run: |
-        docker run --rm --privileged aptman/qus -s -- -p --credential aarch64
-
     - name: docker-run-checks
       timeout-minutes: ${{matrix.timeout_minutes}}
       env: ${{matrix.env}}
diff --git a/src/test/docker/README.md b/src/test/docker/README.md
index 49b50ad89423..56a454776f9b 100644
--- a/src/test/docker/README.md
+++ b/src/test/docker/README.md
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ Docker buildx extensions, see
 
 and run
 ```
-$  docker buildx build --push --platform=linux/arm64,linux/amd64 --tag fluxrm/testenv:jammy src/test/docker/jammy
-$  docker buildx build --push --platform=linux/386,linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --tag fluxrm/testenv:bookworm src/test/docker/bookworm
+$  docker buildx build --push --platform=linux/arm64,linux/amd64 --tag fluxrm/testenv:jammy -f src/test/docker/jammy/Dockerfile .
+$  docker buildx build --push --platform=linux/386,linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --tag fluxrm/testenv:bookworm -f src/test/docker/bookworm/Dockerfile .
 ```
 
 to build and push images to docker hub.
diff --git a/src/test/generate-matrix.py b/src/test/generate-matrix.py
index 8cd084219643..12f23c36d582 100755
--- a/src/test/generate-matrix.py
+++ b/src/test/generate-matrix.py
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ def on_master_or_tag(matrix):
         "suffix": " - arm64",
         "command_args": "--install-only ",
         "timeout_minutes": 90,
+        "runner": "ubuntu-24.04-arm",
     },
-    "linux/amd64": {"when": lambda _: True},
+    "linux/amd64": {"when": lambda _: True, "runner": "ubuntu-latest"},
 }
 
 
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ def add_build(
         platform=None,
         command_args="",
         timeout_minutes=60,
+        runner="ubuntu-latest",
     ):
         """Add a build to the matrix.include array"""
 
@@ -144,6 +146,7 @@ def add_build(
                 "env": env,
                 "command": command,
                 "image": image,
+                "runner": runner,
                 "tag": self.tag,
                 "branch": self.branch,
                 "coverage": coverage,
@@ -175,6 +178,7 @@ def add_multiarch_build(
                     image=image if image is not None else name,
                     command_args=args.get("command_args", ""),
                     timeout_minutes=args.get("timeout_minutes", 30),
+                    runner=args["runner"],
                     **kwargs,
                 )
 
@@ -189,7 +193,11 @@ def __str__(self):
 
 # Multi-arch builds, arm only builds on
 bookworm_platforms = deepcopy(DEFAULT_MULTIARCH_PLATFORMS)
-bookworm_platforms["linux/386"] = {"when": lambda _: True, "suffix": " - 32 bit"}
+bookworm_platforms["linux/386"] = {
+    "when": lambda _: True,
+    "suffix": " - 32 bit",
+    "runner": "ubuntu-latest",
+}
 common_args = (
     "--prefix=/usr"
     " --sysconfdir=/etc"
@@ -231,17 +239,15 @@ def __str__(self):
         TEST_INSTALL="t",
     ),
 )
-# single arch builds that still produce a container
-matrix.add_build(
-    name="fedora40 - test-install",
-    image="fedora40",
+matrix.add_multiarch_build(
+    name="fedora40",
+    default_suffix=" - test-install",
     args=common_args,
     env=dict(
         TEST_INSTALL="t",
     ),
-    docker_tag=True,
 )
-
+# single arch builds that still produce a container
 # Ubuntu: TEST_INSTALL
 matrix.add_build(
     name="jammy - test-install",
diff --git a/t/t0016-cron-faketime.t b/t/t0016-cron-faketime.t
index 14bed65ff1e8..b27c2e05e71c 100755
--- a/t/t0016-cron-faketime.t
+++ b/t/t0016-cron-faketime.t
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ if ! test_have_prereq NO_ASAN; then
     test_done
 fi
 
+if test "$(uname -m)" = "aarch64" ; then
+    skip_all='skipping faketime cron tests on aarch64'
+    test_done
+fi
+
 # allow libfaketime to be found on ubuntu, centos
 if test -d /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/faketime ; then
   export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/faketime"