diff --git a/.woodpecker/web.yaml b/.woodpecker/web.yaml
index 20d0fc1..cbe2b32 100644
--- a/.woodpecker/web.yaml
+++ b/.woodpecker/web.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+# Depends on the backend workflow so that when a commit touches both
+# subtrees, web's helm upgrade waits for backend's. Avoids the helm release
+# lock race where two simultaneous `helm upgrade marktvogt` calls collide.
+# When only web/** changes (the common case), backend doesn't run and this
+# depends_on is a no-op.
+depends_on:
+  - backend
+
 when:
   - event: [push, pull_request]
     path: