diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
index e380840..c01ae86 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ jobs:
           export PATH=~/bin:$PATH
           skopeo copy docker://zothub.io/machine/bootkit/bootkit:v0.0.16.230901-squashfs oci:oci:bootkit-squashfs
           lxc-usernsexec -s << EOF
+          export ATOMFS_TEST_RUN_DIR=~/test-run-dir/
+          mkdir $ATOMFS_TEST_RUN_DIR
           atomfs mount --persist=upper oci:bootkit-squashfs dest
           [ -d dest/bootkit ]
           touch dest/zz