diff --git a/.github/workflows/esm_tools_actions_novm.yml b/.github/workflows/esm_tools_actions_novm.yml
index 60b338f8c..22e295d03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/esm_tools_actions_novm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/esm_tools_actions_novm.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ jobs:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
           architecture: x64
 
+      - name: Install libhdf5-dev
+        run: sudo apt-get install libhdf5-dev
+
+      - name: Install libnetcdf-dev
+        run: sudo apt-get install libnetcdf-dev
+        
       - name: add to the path
         run: |
           echo "$HOME/.local/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH