diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yml b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
index 8ced64a916f..dd02a577687 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ matrix.ghc }}-${{ github.sha }}
           restore-keys: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ matrix.ghc }}-
 
+      - name: "Work around git problem https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/git/+bug/1993586 (cabal PR #8546)"
+        # alternatively, use 'continue-on-error: true'
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+        run: git config --global protocol.file.allow always
+
       # The tool is not essential to the rest of the test suite. If
       # hackage-repo-tool is not present, any test that requires it will
       # be skipped.