diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 6c21f31..74a0d45 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ install-deps:
     - *install-uv
     - |
       set -euo pipefail
-      uv venv --python ${PYTHON_VERSION} .venv
+      if [ -d .venv ]; then
+        echo "Reusing cached virtual environment at .venv"
+      else
+        uv venv --python ${PYTHON_VERSION} .venv
+      fi
       uv sync --group docs
       uv run python -c "import sys; print('Using', sys.executable)"
   cache:
@@ -55,7 +59,11 @@ build-docs:
     - *install-uv
     - |
       set -euo pipefail
-      uv venv --python ${PYTHON_VERSION} .venv
+      if [ -d .venv ]; then
+        echo "Reusing cached virtual environment at .venv"
+      else
+        uv venv --python ${PYTHON_VERSION} .venv
+      fi
       uv sync --group docs
       uv run python --version
   script: