diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 4c58287b53..856a98845f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ env:
   RUST_BACKTRACE: 1
 
 jobs:
+  strategy:
+    max-parallel: 1
+
   prep-dependency-container:
     name: update earthly container if changed
     runs-on: self-hosted