diff --git a/.github/workflows/custom/before-install/action.yml b/.github/workflows/custom/before-install/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd52fc5a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/custom/before-install/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+name: 'Custom steps to run before R packages are installed'
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Define R CMD check error condition
+      run: |
+        echo '_R_CHECK_PKG_SIZES_=FALSE' | tee -a $GITHUB_ENV
+      shell: bash