diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 593885715..4b1f50b5a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Run Cross Compilation Targets
       run: >
         sudo make -C scripts/ci ${{ matrix.target }}
+        BUILD_OPTIONS="--build-arg CI_CROSS_COMPILE=1"
 
   docker-test:
     needs: [alpine-test]
diff --git a/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh b/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh
index e7a31f219..11528a2c1 100755
--- a/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh
+++ b/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ if [ ! -x "$APT_INSTALL" ]; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-"$APT_INSTALL" \
+if ! "$APT_INSTALL" \
 	crossbuild-essential-"${DEBIAN_ARCH}" \
 	iproute2:"${DEBIAN_ARCH}" \
 	libaio-dev:"${DEBIAN_ARCH}" \
@@ -34,4 +34,13 @@ fi
 	git \
 	protobuf-c-compiler \
 	protobuf-compiler \
-	python3-protobuf
+	python3-protobuf; then
+	if [ -n "$CI_CROSS_COMPILE" ]; then
+		# Use \r to move cursor to the start of the line so that
+		# ::error:: is recognized by GitHub Actions even when
+		# running inside a Docker build where BuildKit prefixes
+		# each line with step and timing information.
+		printf '\r::error::Cross-compile dependency installation failed for %s\n' "${DEBIAN_ARCH}"
+	fi
+	exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/build/Dockerfile.stable-cross.tmpl b/scripts/build/Dockerfile.stable-cross.tmpl
index 429b077b8..8224ceb24 100644
--- a/scripts/build/Dockerfile.stable-cross.tmpl
+++ b/scripts/build/Dockerfile.stable-cross.tmpl
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ ENV CROSS_COMPILE=${CROSS_TRIPLET}-				\
 ENV PATH="${PATH}:${CROSS_ROOT}/bin"				\
 	PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/lib/${CROSS_TRIPLET}/pkgconfig
 
+ARG CI_CROSS_COMPILE
+ENV CI_CROSS_COMPILE=${CI_CROSS_COMPILE}
+
 COPY contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh /criu/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh
 COPY contrib/apt-install /criu/contrib/apt-install
 WORKDIR /criu
diff --git a/scripts/build/Dockerfile.unstable-cross.tmpl b/scripts/build/Dockerfile.unstable-cross.tmpl
index 4aa009f22..db61e15a7 100644
--- a/scripts/build/Dockerfile.unstable-cross.tmpl
+++ b/scripts/build/Dockerfile.unstable-cross.tmpl
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ ENV CROSS_COMPILE=${CROSS_TRIPLET}-				\
 ENV PATH="${PATH}:${CROSS_ROOT}/bin"				\
 	PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/lib/${CROSS_TRIPLET}/pkgconfig
 
+ARG CI_CROSS_COMPILE
+ENV CI_CROSS_COMPILE=${CI_CROSS_COMPILE}
+
 COPY contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh /criu/contrib/dependencies/apt-cross-packages.sh
 COPY contrib/apt-install /criu/contrib/apt-install
 WORKDIR /criu