diff --git a/.github/workflows/CICD.yml b/.github/workflows/CICD.yml
index c9dcb2e35..7fa43165f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CICD.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CICD.yml
@@ -653,10 +653,6 @@ jobs:
             ;;
         esac
         outputs CARGO_TEST_OPTIONS
-        # ** pass needed environment into `cross` container (iff `cross` not already configured via "Cross.toml")
-        if [ "${CARGO_CMD}" = 'cross' ] && [ ! -e "Cross.toml" ] ; then
-          printf "[build.env]\npassthrough = [\"CI\", \"RUST_BACKTRACE\", \"CARGO_TERM_COLOR\"]\n" > Cross.toml
-        fi
         # * executable for `strip`?
         STRIP="strip"
         case ${{ matrix.job.target }} in
diff --git a/Cross.toml b/Cross.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52f5bad21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Cross.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# spell-checker:ignore (misc) dpkg noninteractive tzdata
+[build]
+pre-build = [
+  "apt-get update && DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install tzdata",
+]
+[build.env]
+passthrough = ["CI", "RUST_BACKTRACE", "CARGO_TERM_COLOR"]