diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 9a315193..055aaaae 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -36,10 +36,12 @@ jobs:
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - name: check free space
+        run: df -h
       - name: build container image
         # note: forcing use of podman here since we are
         # using podman explicity for the push job
-        run: make CONTAINER_CMD=podman image-build
+        run: make CONTAINER_CMD=podman image-build || df -h
 
   # push the container to quay.io - only for pushes, not PRs
   push: