diff --git a/recipe/conda_build_config.yaml b/recipe/conda_build_config.yaml
index d75ea1affe..5733ccd0ba 100644
--- a/recipe/conda_build_config.yaml
+++ b/recipe/conda_build_config.yaml
@@ -172,6 +172,12 @@ docker_image:                                       # [os.environ.get("BUILD_PLA
   - quay.io/condaforge/linux-anvil-aarch64:alma9    # [os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True" and os.environ.get("BUILD_PLATFORM") == "linux-aarch64" and os.environ.get("DEFAULT_LINUX_VERSION", "alma9") == "alma9"]
   - quay.io/condaforge/linux-anvil-ppc64le:alma9    # [os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True" and os.environ.get("BUILD_PLATFORM") == "linux-ppc64le" and os.environ.get("DEFAULT_LINUX_VERSION", "alma9") == "alma9"]
 
+# to be overridden per feedstock; part of zip so that CPU builds can choose different agents than GPU builds
+github_actions_labels:                              # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
+  - cirun-openstack-cpu-placeholder                 # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
+  - cirun-openstack-gpu-placeholder                 # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
+  - cirun-openstack-gpu-placeholder                 # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
+
 zip_keys:
   -                             # [unix]
     - c_compiler_version        # [unix]
@@ -179,6 +185,7 @@ zip_keys:
     - fortran_compiler_version  # [unix]
     - cuda_compiler             # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
     - cuda_compiler_version     # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
+    - github_actions_labels     # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
     - docker_image              # [linux and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True" and os.environ.get("BUILD_PLATFORM", "").startswith("linux-")]
   -                             # [win64 and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]
     - cuda_compiler             # [win64 and os.environ.get("CF_CUDA_ENABLED", "False") == "True"]