diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index e8f4ad5511..adad265748 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run unit tests
         run: |
           $PERSIST "cd /tmp/openpilot && \
+                    scons -j$(nproc) && \
                     coverage run selfdrive/test/test_fingerprints.py && \
                     $UNIT_TEST common && \
                     $UNIT_TEST opendbc/can && \
@@ -137,7 +138,9 @@ jobs:
         run: $LOAD
       - name: Run replay
         run: |
-          $PERSIST "cd /tmp/openpilot && CI=1 coverage run selfdrive/test/process_replay/test_processes.py"
+          $PERSIST "cd /tmp/openpilot && \
+                    scons -j$(nproc) && \
+                    CI=1 coverage run selfdrive/test/process_replay/test_processes.py"
       - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
         run: |
           docker commit tmppilot tmppilotci
@@ -168,7 +171,11 @@ jobs:
         run: $LOAD
       - name: Test longitudinal
         run: |
-          $PERSIST "cd /tmp/openpilot/selfdrive/test/longitudinal_maneuvers && OPTEST=1 ./test_longitudinal.py"
+          $PERSIST "mkdir -p /tmp/openpilot/selfdrive/test/out && \
+                    cd /tmp/openpilot/ && \
+                    scons -j$(nproc) && \
+                    cd selfdrive/test/longitudinal_maneuvers && \
+                    OPTEST=1 ./test_longitudinal.py"
       - name: Copy artifacts
         if: always()
         run: |
@@ -193,7 +200,11 @@ jobs:
         run: $LOAD
       - name: Test car models
         run: |
-          $PERSIST "mkdir -p /data/params && cd /tmp/openpilot && coverage run --parallel-mode --concurrency=multiprocessing --rcfile=./.coveragerc-app selfdrive/test/test_car_models.py && coverage combine"
+          $PERSIST "mkdir -p /data/params && \
+                    cd /tmp/openpilot && \
+                    scons -j$(nproc) && \
+                    coverage run --parallel-mode --concurrency=multiprocessing --rcfile=./.coveragerc-app selfdrive/test/test_car_models.py && \
+                    coverage combine"
       - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
         run: |
           docker commit tmppilot tmppilotci
diff --git a/Dockerfile.openpilot b/Dockerfile.openpilot
index 3c65d655c8..b2cc34aef2 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.openpilot
+++ b/Dockerfile.openpilot
@@ -81,6 +81,3 @@ COPY ./panda /tmp/openpilot/panda
 COPY ./selfdrive /tmp/openpilot/selfdrive
 
 COPY SConstruct /tmp/openpilot/SConstruct
-
-RUN mkdir -p /tmp/openpilot/selfdrive/test/out
-RUN cd /tmp/openpilot && scons -j$(nproc)