diff --git a/.ci/packer_cache_for_branch.sh b/.ci/packer_cache_for_branch.sh
index 5b4a94be50fa2..ab0ab845b2dc3 100755
--- a/.ci/packer_cache_for_branch.sh
+++ b/.ci/packer_cache_for_branch.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ node scripts/es snapshot --download-only;
 node scripts/es snapshot --license=oss --download-only;
 
 # download reporting browsers
-(cd "x-pack" && yarn gulp prepare);
+(cd "x-pack" && yarn gulp downloadChromium);
 
 # cache the chromedriver archive
 chromedriverDistVersion="$(node -e "console.log(require('chromedriver').version)")"
diff --git a/x-pack/gulpfile.js b/x-pack/gulpfile.js
index adccaccecd7da..7e5ab9b18f019 100644
--- a/x-pack/gulpfile.js
+++ b/x-pack/gulpfile.js
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@ require('../src/setup_node_env');
 const { buildTask } = require('./tasks/build');
 const { devTask } = require('./tasks/dev');
 const { testTask, testKarmaTask, testKarmaDebugTask } = require('./tasks/test');
+const { downloadChromium } = require('./tasks/download_chromium');
 
 // export the tasks that are runnable from the CLI
 module.exports = {
   build: buildTask,
   dev: devTask,
+  downloadChromium,
   test: testTask,
   'test:karma': testKarmaTask,
   'test:karma:debug': testKarmaDebugTask,
diff --git a/x-pack/tasks/download_chromium.ts b/x-pack/tasks/download_chromium.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1f7f8a92dfffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/tasks/download_chromium.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import { LevelLogger } from '../plugins/reporting/server/lib';
+import { ensureBrowserDownloaded } from '../plugins/reporting/server/browsers/download';
+
+export const downloadChromium = async () => {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+  const consoleLogger = (tag: string) => (message: unknown) => console.log(tag, message);
+  const innerLogger = {
+    get: () => innerLogger,
+    debug: consoleLogger('debug'),
+    info: consoleLogger('info'),
+    warn: consoleLogger('warn'),
+    trace: consoleLogger('trace'),
+    error: consoleLogger('error'),
+    fatal: consoleLogger('fatal'),
+    log: consoleLogger('log'),
+  };
+
+  const levelLogger = new LevelLogger(innerLogger);
+  await ensureBrowserDownloaded(levelLogger);
+};