diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 882fba52ed..f0f8f5a3ab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ jobs:
         # this is to make the workqueue binary installer happy
         sudo apt-get install -y libpython3.5
 
+        # mpi is required by the radical executor
+        sudo apt install -y mpich
+
     - name: make deps clean_coverage
       run: |
         make deps