diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-cross-compile.yml b/.github/workflows/build-cross-compile.yml
index dbc6a11ea66..11a3a4b0d14 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-cross-compile.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-cross-compile.yml
@@ -61,27 +61,32 @@ jobs:
             debian-arch: arm64
             debian-repository: https://httpredir.debian.org/debian/
             debian-version: bullseye
+            tolerate-sysroot-errors: false
           - target-cpu: arm
             gnu-arch: arm
             debian-arch: armhf
             debian-repository: https://httpredir.debian.org/debian/
             debian-version: bullseye
+            tolerate-sysroot-errors: false
             gnu-abi: eabihf
           - target-cpu: s390x
             gnu-arch: s390x
             debian-arch: s390x
             debian-repository: https://httpredir.debian.org/debian/
             debian-version: bullseye
+            tolerate-sysroot-errors: false
           - target-cpu: ppc64le
             gnu-arch: powerpc64le
             debian-arch: ppc64el
             debian-repository: https://httpredir.debian.org/debian/
             debian-version: bullseye
+            tolerate-sysroot-errors: false
           - target-cpu: riscv64
             gnu-arch: riscv64
             debian-arch: riscv64
             debian-repository: https://httpredir.debian.org/debian/
             debian-version: sid
+            tolerate-sysroot-errors: true
 
     steps:
       - name: 'Checkout the JDK source'
@@ -130,6 +135,7 @@ jobs:
         if: steps.get-cached-sysroot.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
 
       - name: 'Create sysroot'
+        id: create-sysroot
         run: >
           sudo debootstrap
           --arch=${{ matrix.debian-arch }}
@@ -140,6 +146,7 @@ jobs:
           ${{ matrix.debian-version }}
           sysroot
           ${{ matrix.debian-repository }}
+        continue-on-error: ${{ matrix.tolerate-sysroot-errors }}
         if: steps.get-cached-sysroot.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
 
       - name: 'Prepare sysroot'
@@ -151,7 +158,12 @@ jobs:
           rm -rf sysroot/usr/{sbin,bin,share}
           rm -rf sysroot/usr/lib/{apt,gcc,udev,systemd}
           rm -rf sysroot/usr/libexec/gcc
-        if: steps.get-cached-sysroot.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        if: steps.create-sysroot.outcome == 'success' && steps.get-cached-sysroot.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+
+      - name: 'Remove broken sysroot'
+        run: |
+          sudo rm -rf sysroot/
+        if: steps.create-sysroot.outcome != 'success' && steps.get-cached-sysroot.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
 
       - name: 'Configure'
         run: >
@@ -173,6 +185,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "Dumping config.log:" &&
           cat config.log &&
           exit 1)
+        if: steps.create-sysroot.outcome == 'success'
 
       - name: 'Build'
         id: build
@@ -180,3 +193,4 @@ jobs:
         with:
           make-target: 'hotspot ${{ inputs.make-arguments }}'
           platform: linux-${{ matrix.target-cpu }}
+        if: steps.create-sysroot.outcome == 'success'