diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-test.yaml
index 0e05a9a06a..bb21613a25 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-test.yaml
@@ -286,7 +286,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -y
           sudo apt-get install -y curl gettext-base pkg-config
-          which bwrap
+
+          # enable user namespaces. bubblewrap binary requires this, which is a dep of melange.
+          sudo sysctl -w kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone=1
 
       - name: template melange config
         env: