diff --git a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
index bdd3d9e38..42dd122ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
@@ -297,7 +297,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Test the console output
+        id: test-nodebuilder
         uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@v1
+        timeout-minutes: 180
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           prepare: |
             uname -a
@@ -309,11 +312,31 @@ jobs:
           run: |
             /bin/sh -x ./test/test_nodebuilder --ref "${GITHUB_SHA}"
             cp "${HOME}/.bitcoin/debug.log" .
+      - name: If test failed, debug nodebuilder ${{ matrix.additional-args }}
+        if: steps.test-nodebuilder.outcome == 'failure'
+        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@v1
+        timeout-minutes: 180
+        env:
+            CI_NODEBUILDER_URL: https://github.com/bitcoin-tools/nodebuilder/raw/master/nodebuilder
+        with:
+          prepare: pkg install --yes wget
+          envs: 'CI_NODEBUILDER_URL'
+          run: |
+            if [ -n "$(ls /usr/local/bin/*bitcoin*)" ]; then
+              rm /usr/local/bin/*bitcoin*
+            fi
+            wget --no-verbose --retry-connrefused "${CI_NODEBUILDER_URL}"
+            chmod u+x nodebuilder
+            /bin/sh -x ./nodebuilder ${{ matrix.additional-args }}
+            cp "${HOME}/.bitcoin/debug.log" .
       - name: Save Bitcoin Core log as artifact
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: freebsd-source-bitcoin-debug.log
           path: /home/runner/work/nodebuilder/nodebuilder/debug.log
+      - name: If test failed, fail the job
+        if: steps.test-nodebuilder.outcome == 'failure'
+        run: printf '%s\n' "Review the step 'Test the console output' above." && exit 1
 
   run-nodebuilder-docker:
     name: Docker image for ${{ matrix.container }}