diff --git a/.github/workflows/cleanup-runs.yml b/.github/workflows/cleanup-runs.yml
index 26d8ec6..574549b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cleanup-runs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cleanup-runs.yml
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ on:
         required: false
         default: '1'
 
-# Deleting runs requires actions: write. Everything else stays least-privilege.
+# Read-only at the workflow level, so any job added to this file starts with nothing. The
+# write scope belongs to the single job below and is declared there, next to the step that
+# needs it.
 permissions:
-  actions: write
   contents: read
 
 concurrency:
@@ -34,6 +35,13 @@ jobs:
   cleanup:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 15
+
+    # actions: write is used by exactly one step below, "Delete old runs of the high-frequency
+    # workflows" (DELETE /repos/{repo}/actions/runs/{id}). Deleting runs is what this workflow
+    # is for, so dropping it leaves the job with nothing to do.
+    permissions:
+      actions: write
+      contents: read
     env:
       GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
       KEEP: ${{ github.event.inputs.keep || '1' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-lockfix.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-lockfix.yml
index 60a32f3..4f242ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot-lockfix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-lockfix.yml
@@ -44,9 +44,11 @@ on:
         required: true
         type: string
 
+# Read-only at the workflow level, so any job added to this file starts with nothing. The two
+# write scopes belong to the single job below and are declared there, next to the steps that
+# need them.
 permissions:
-  contents: write        # push the regenerated lock files to the Dependabot branch
-  actions: write         # approve the PR checks GitHub creates after the bot push
+  contents: read
 
 concurrency:
   group: dependabot-lockfix-${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch || inputs.branch }}
@@ -65,6 +67,15 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 10
 
+    # Both scopes are load-bearing, and each is used by exactly one step below:
+    #   contents: write  -> "Push the fix if anything changed" (git push origin HEAD:$BRANCH)
+    #   actions:  write  -> "Approve the pull-request checks on the fixed commit"
+    #                       (POST /repos/{repo}/actions/runs/{id}/approve)
+    # Dropping either one breaks the repair this workflow exists to perform.
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      actions: write
+
     env:
       BRANCH: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch || inputs.branch }}
 
@@ -149,4 +160,4 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
           echo "::notice::Approved $approved pull-request workflow run(s) for $head."
-
+