diff --git a/tools/ci/before_install.sh b/tools/ci/before_install.sh
index a5c7c6dca146..8d2f89c8fc4b 100644
--- a/tools/ci/before_install.sh
+++ b/tools/ci/before_install.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # not spec, and not cross repo
-if [ "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:javascript" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:jest" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:compile" ]; then
+if [ "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:javascript" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:jest" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:compile" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:cypress" ]; then
   nvm install 12
 fi
diff --git a/tools/ci/before_script.sh b/tools/ci/before_script.sh
index 7fb1ed2d92fc..46625b84bece 100644
--- a/tools/ci/before_script.sh
+++ b/tools/ci/before_script.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 # not spec, and not cross repo
-if [ "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:javascript" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:jest" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:compile" ]; then
+if [ "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:javascript" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:jest" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:compile" -o "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:cypress" ]; then
   # make sure yarn is installed, in the right version
   bundle exec rake webpacker:check_yarn || npm install -g yarn
 
   # install & compile dependencies
   bundle exec rake update:ui
+
+  if [ "$TEST_SUITE" = "spec:cypress" ]; then
+    # run evm:compile_assets (and friends) if cypress
+    bundle exec rake app:cypress:ui:seed
+  fi
 fi