diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI_pyHAMS.yml b/.github/workflows/CI_pyHAMS.yml
index 4ff2cc8..124d18f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI_pyHAMS.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI_pyHAMS.yml
@@ -87,11 +87,13 @@ jobs:
             - uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2
               # https://github.com/marketplace/actions/setup-miniconda
               with:
+                  mamba-version: "*"
                   miniconda-version: "latest"
-                  auto-update-conda: true
+                  #auto-update-conda: true
                   python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
                   environment-file: environment.yml
                   channels: conda-forge
+                  channel-priority: true          
                   activate-environment: test
                   auto-activate-base: false
 
@@ -99,18 +101,20 @@ jobs:
             - name: Add dependencies windows specific
               if: contains( matrix.os, 'windows')
               run: |
-                  conda install -y m2w64-toolchain libpython
-                  conda list
+                  mamba install -y m2w64-toolchain libpython
+                  mamba list
 
             # Install dependencies of WISDEM specific to windows
             - name: Add dependencies mac specific
               if: contains( matrix.os, 'mac')
               run: |
-                  conda install -y compilers
+                  mamba install -y compilers
                   gfortran --version
 
             # Install 
             - name: Conda Install pyHAMS
+              env:
+                  MESON_ARGS: ""
               run: |
                   python setup.py develop
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c3a9267..5077b06 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ def run_meson_build(staging_dir):
     meson_args = ""
     if "MESON_ARGS" in os.environ:
         meson_args = os.environ["MESON_ARGS"]
+        # A weird add-on on mac github action runners needs to be removed
+        if meson_args.find("buildtype") >= 0: meson_args = ""
 
     if platform.system() == "Windows":
         if not "FC" in os.environ:
@@ -47,14 +49,12 @@ def run_meson_build(staging_dir):
     if meson_path is None:
         raise OSError("The meson command cannot be found on the system")
         
-    meson_call = (
-        f"{meson_path} setup {staging_dir} --wipe --prefix={prefix} "
-        + f"-Dpython.purelibdir={purelibdir} -Dpython.platlibdir={purelibdir} {meson_args}"
-    )
-    sysargs = meson_call.split(" ")
-    sysargs = [arg for arg in sysargs if arg != ""]
-    print(sysargs)
-    p1 = subprocess.run(sysargs, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+    meson_call = [meson_path, "setup", staging_dir, "--wipe",
+                  f"--prefix={prefix}", f"-Dpython.purelibdir={purelibdir}",
+                  f"-Dpython.platlibdir={purelibdir}", meson_args]
+    meson_call = [m for m in meson_call if m != ""]
+    print(meson_call)
+    p1 = subprocess.run(meson_call, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     os.makedirs(staging_dir, exist_ok=True)
     setup_log = os.path.join(staging_dir, "setup.log")
     with open(setup_log, "wb") as f:
@@ -62,23 +62,20 @@ def run_meson_build(staging_dir):
     if p1.returncode != 0:
         with open(setup_log, "r") as f:
             print(f.read())
-        raise OSError(sysargs, f"The meson setup command failed! Check the log at {setup_log} for more information.")
+        raise OSError(meson_call, f"The meson setup command failed! Check the log at {setup_log} for more information.")
 
     # build
-    meson_call = f"{meson_path} compile -vC {staging_dir}"
-    sysargs = meson_call.split(" ")
-    sysargs = [arg for arg in sysargs if arg != ""]
-    print(sysargs)
-    p2 = subprocess.run(sysargs, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+    meson_call = [meson_path, "compile", "-vC", staging_dir]
+    meson_call = [m for m in meson_call if m != ""]
+    print(meson_call)
+    p2 = subprocess.run(meson_call, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     compile_log = os.path.join(staging_dir, "compile.log")
     with open(compile_log, "wb") as f:
         f.write(p2.stdout)
     if p2.returncode != 0:
         with open(compile_log, "r") as f:
             print(f.read())
-        raise OSError(
-            sysargs, f"The meson compile command failed! Check the log at {compile_log} for more information."
-        )
+        raise OSError(meson_call, f"The meson compile command failed! Check the log at {compile_log} for more information.")
 
 
 def copy_shared_libraries():
@@ -94,7 +91,7 @@ def copy_shared_libraries():
                 match = re.search(staging_dir, new_path)
                 new_path = new_path[match.span()[1] + 1 :]
                 print(f"Copying build file {file_path} -> {new_path}")
-                shutil.copy(file_path, new_path)
+                shutil.move(file_path, new_path)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
@@ -102,19 +99,13 @@ def copy_shared_libraries():
     # used as the sources for setuptools
     staging_dir = "meson_build"
 
-    # If on Windows, use the compiled exe from Yingyi
+    # this keeps the meson build system from running more than once
     if "dist" not in str(os.path.abspath(__file__)):
         cwd = os.getcwd()
         run_meson_build(staging_dir)
         os.chdir(cwd)
         copy_shared_libraries()
 
-    #docs_require = ""
-    #req_txt = os.path.join("doc", "requirements.txt")
-    #if os.path.isfile(req_txt):
-    #    with open(req_txt) as f:
-    #        docs_require = f.read().splitlines()
-
     init_file = os.path.join("pyhams", "__init__.py")
     #__version__ = re.findall(
     #    r"""__version__ = ["']+([0-9\.]*)["']+""",