diff --git a/.github/workflows/run_release_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/run_release_tests.yml
index 07a998ba07..a7a1b9bd11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run_release_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run_release_tests.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: install dependencies. note aws is pre-installed and we use a specific action for node.
         run: |
-          sudo apt install -y tar gzip unzip wget less groff vim git python3 python3-pip unixodbc-dev curl jq;
+          sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y tar gzip unzip wget less groff vim git python3 python3-pip unixodbc-dev curl jq;
           pip3 install boto3;
       - name: install node and npm
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4