diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_dev_ext.yml b/.github/workflows/test_dev_ext.yml
index a67be30c8..ef1daf264 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_dev_ext.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_dev_ext.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
           python -m venv env
           source env/bin/activate
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install .
+          make local-install
           pip install -e ./src/openqaoa-core[tests]
           pip install ipykernel
       - name: Run tests