diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
index a53ae8fb..5a55f9df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ jobs:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
           cache: 'pip'
 
+      - name: install dependencies
+        run: |
+          pip install ".[test]"
+
       - name: install sphinx from PyPI or from git
         run: |
           if echo "${{ matrix.sphinx-version }}"|grep -q git; then
@@ -51,9 +55,5 @@ jobs:
               pip install -Iv Sphinx==${{ matrix.sphinx-version }}
           fi
 
-      - name: install dependencies
-        run: |
-          pip install ".[test]"
-
       - name: run the unit tests
         run: make dev-test