diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e9390c57..0a91fe13 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ jobs:
         architecture: x64
     - name: Install requirements
       run: |
-        pip install -r requirements/pip-tools.txt
-        pip install -r requirements/test.txt
-        pip install Django~=${{ matrix.django-version }}
+        make requirements
+        if [[ "${{ matrix.django-version }}" != "pinned" ]]; then
+          pip install "django~=${{ matrix.django-version }}.0"
+          pip check # fail if this test-reqs/Django combination is broken
+        fi
     - name: Upgrade packages
       run: pip install -U pip wheel codecov
     - name: Validate translations