diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9fdc517..f9564f4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -222,7 +222,16 @@ jobs:
         run: sdkmanager "$ANDROID_PLATFORM" "$ANDROID_BUILD_TOOLS" "platform-tools" "emulator" "$API37_IMAGE"
 
       - name: Create API 37 AVD
-        run: echo "no" | avdmanager create avd -n api37 -k "$API37_IMAGE" -d pixel_2 --force
+        run: |
+          # avdmanager and the emulator disagree on the default AVD dir when ANDROID_SDK_HOME is set
+          # on the runner (avdmanager writes $ANDROID_SDK_HOME/.android/avd; the emulator looks in
+          # $ANDROID_SDK_HOME/avd), which made the boot step report "Unknown AVD name [api37]". Pin
+          # ANDROID_AVD_HOME so both agree, and carry it to the boot step via $GITHUB_ENV.
+          export ANDROID_AVD_HOME="$HOME/.android/avd"
+          echo "ANDROID_AVD_HOME=$ANDROID_AVD_HOME" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          mkdir -p "$ANDROID_AVD_HOME"
+          echo "no" | avdmanager create avd -n api37 -k "$API37_IMAGE" -d pixel_2 --force
+          echo "AVDs visible to the emulator:"; "$ANDROID_SDK_ROOT/emulator/emulator" -list-avds
 
       - name: Boot emulator and run E2E
         run: |