diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-check.yml b/.github/workflows/python-check.yml
index 7a7e131..066c39e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-check.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ jobs:
           ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           fetch-depth: ${{ env.PR_FETCH_DEPTH }}
 
+      - name: install cairo so we can install hwgraph dependencies
+        run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install libcairo2
+
       - name: Install uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
         with: