diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 5972ff7415..7b707f9edc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       LD_PRELOAD: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libstdc++.so.6
+      CANTERA_DATA: /home/runner/work/cantera/cantera/data
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         name: Checkout the repository
@@ -56,10 +57,15 @@ jobs:
           cc_flags=-D_GLIBCXX_ASSERTIONS
       - name: Set up MATLAB
         uses: matlab-actions/setup-matlab@v1
-      - name: Run script
+      - name: Run test script
         uses: matlab-actions/run-command@v1
         with:
           command: cd ~/work/cantera/cantera; addpath([pwd, '/test/matlab_experimental']); ctRunTests;
+      - name: Run tests directly
+        uses: matlab-actions/run-tests@v1
+        with:
+          select-by-folder: /home/runner/work/cantera/cantera/test/matlab_experimental
+
 
   ubuntu-multiple-pythons:
     name: ${{ matrix.os }} with Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}