apt package install fails when a newer version of gitlab-runner-helper-images is available

Summary

When trying to install gitlab-runner from the debian package cloud source https://packages.gitlab.com/runner the apt install will fail if the available gitlab-runner-helper-images is a newer version than the requested gitlab-runner version.

A workaround is to ensure you have the exact version of gitlab-runner-helper-images installed first, or at the same time, rather than allow apt to handle the dependency management.

Steps to reproduce

Without having gitlab-runner or gitlab-runner-helper-images installed, try apt install gitlab-runner=older_version_than_current - assuming this version is greater than 17.7 where the hard dependency between the two packages has been introduced.

Actual behavior

An error like gitlab-runner : Depends: gitlab-runner-helper-images (= 17.9.0~pre.88.g5835694a-1) but 17.9.0~pre.101.g0eb97601-1 is to be installed

Expected behavior

Should install the specified gitlab-runner version along with the same version of gitlab-runner-helper-images.

Relevant logs and/or screenshots

job log

Add the job log

Environment description

Ubuntu environment using Chef to install.

config.toml contents

Add your configuration here

Used GitLab Runner version

Possible fixes