diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 9a9190d..865ecfa 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -226,10 +226,15 @@ pipeline {
       archiveArtifacts artifacts: 'out/downloads/**', allowEmptyArchive: true, fingerprint: true
     }
     cleanup {
-      // Runs after archiving. Keeps the restic cache and restored stock
-      // builds ($DORKNET_CACHE on the agent, outside the workspace); drops
-      // the workspace's build output and scratch.
-      cleanWs(deleteDirs: true, notFailBuild: true)
+      // Runs after archiving. Drops the build output and scratch (several
+      // GB) but keeps the Git checkout: the job's path filter compares
+      // pushes against it, and without a workspace Jenkins treats every
+      // push as a change and starts a run. The restic cache and restored
+      // stock builds live outside the workspace ($DORKNET_CACHE).
+      cleanWs(deleteDirs: true, notFailBuild: true, patterns: [
+        [pattern: 'out/**', type: 'INCLUDE'],
+        [pattern: 'quest-work/**', type: 'INCLUDE'],
+      ])
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/ci/jenkins/README.md b/ci/jenkins/README.md
index 7d27eb7..98dcd39 100644
--- a/ci/jenkins/README.md
+++ b/ci/jenkins/README.md
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ Resolve a table for another build locally with `build.py build --dump-cs`.
   under the job's **Git** source, add **Additional Behaviours → Polling
   ignores commits in certain paths** with included regions
   `DorkNet[.]ClientMod/.*`, `DorkNet[.]Quest/.*`, `tools/build_pc[.]py` (one
-  per line) and excluded region `.*[.]md`.
+  per line) and excluded region `.*[.]md`. The filter compares against the
+  last build's checkout, so the pipeline keeps it and deletes only `out/`
+  and its scratch folders after each run; without a checkout, Jenkins treats
+  every push as a change.
 - **Build with Parameters** runs a manual build:
   - `PLATFORMS` (both / pc / quest), and `PC_FULL_CLIENT` for the full PC client;
   - snapshot tags, and per-run repository overrides;