diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 86edea78f9f..276795c252d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -494,16 +494,23 @@ jobs:
         uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v1
         with:
           environment-file: modflow6/environment.yml
+          create-args: >-
+            netcdf-fortran
           init-shell: >-
             bash
             powershell
           cache-environment: true
           cache-downloads: true
 
+      - name: Update PKG_CONFIG_PATH
+        working-directory: modflow6
+        run: |
+          echo "PKG_CONFIG_PATH=$CONDA_PREFIX/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
       - name: Build modflow6
         working-directory: modflow6
         run: |
-          meson setup builddir -Ddebug=false -Dparallel=true --prefix=$(pwd) --libdir=bin
+          meson setup builddir -Ddebug=false -Dextended=true --prefix=$(pwd) --libdir=bin
           meson install -C builddir
           meson test --verbose --no-rebuild -C builddir
 
@@ -522,6 +529,20 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: pytest -v --durations 0 get_exes.py
 
+      - name: Confirm netcdf license logged
+        working-directory: modflow6/autotest
+        env:
+          REPOS_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}
+        run: |
+          pytest test_gwf_chd01.py --keep temp
+          if grep -Fx "    NetCDF, network Common Data Form software library" temp/test_mf6model[chd01]0/mfsim.lst
+          then
+            echo "NetCDF license logging confirmed."
+          else
+            echo "NetCDF license logging not found."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
       - name: Test programs (parallel)
         working-directory: modflow6/autotest
         env:
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 211bdc3921c..416be2eaf2a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -169,18 +169,16 @@ if is_extended_build
 
   # find netcdf
   if build_machine.system() != 'windows'
-    netcdf = dependency('netcdf', language : 'fortran', required : false)
+    netcdf = dependency('netcdf', language : 'fortran', required : true)
   else
     # For CI testing only; Windows not yet supported
     nc_dir = meson.project_source_root() / '..' / 'ncf' / 'netcdf-fortran-4.6.1' / 'fortran'
-    netcdf = fc.find_library('netcdff', dirs: [ nc_dir ], required : false, static : false)
+    netcdf = fc.find_library('netcdff', dirs: [ nc_dir ], required : true, static : false)
     #nc_incdir = include_directories([ nc_dir ])
   endif
-  if netcdf.found()
-    with_netcdf = true
-    extra_cmp_args += [ '-D__WITH_NETCDF__' ]
-    dependencies += [ netcdf ]    
-  endif
+  extra_cmp_args += [ '-D__WITH_NETCDF__' ]
+  dependencies += [ netcdf ]
+  with_netcdf = true
 else
   with_netcdf = false
   with_petsc = false