diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 8ae0a11d8e..bf9d461a02 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ jobs:
                 "check-stage3": level >= 2,
                 // NOTE: `test-speedcenter` currently seems to be broken on `ubuntu-latest`
                 "test-speedcenter": large && level >= 2,
+                // made explicit until it can be assumed to have propagated to PRs
+                "CMAKE_OPTIONS": "-DUSE_LAKE=ON",
               },
               {
                 "name": "Linux Reldebug",