diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index e3a34e94c..f64f3e0c7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ jobs:
 
 
       - name: Save uv caches
-        if: steps.cache-restore.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        if: steps.cache-restore.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' && matrix.group == 1
         uses: actions/cache/save@0057852bfaa89a56745cba8c7296529d2fc39830 # v4.3.0
         with:
           path: |
diff --git a/lib/crewai/pyproject.toml b/lib/crewai/pyproject.toml
index 7f84e6fde..ba6bc4559 100644
--- a/lib/crewai/pyproject.toml
+++ b/lib/crewai/pyproject.toml
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ dependencies = [
     # Core Dependencies
     "pydantic>=2.11.9,<2.13",
     "openai>=2.30.0,<3",
-    "instructor>=1.3.3",
+    # instructor>=1.16 drops OpenAI Mode.TOOLS; remove this cap after
+    # InternalInstructor negotiates a supported mode via mode_registry.
+    "instructor>=1.3.3,<1.16",
     # Text Processing
     "pdfplumber~=0.11.4",
     "regex~=2026.1.15",