diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0a8827e..51e49b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         python -m pip install uv
-        uv pip install spacy --no-binary blis # do not compile blis from source
-        uv pip install -e .[dev]
+        uv pip install --system spacy --no-binary blis # do not compile blis from source
+        uv pip install --system -e .[dev]
     - name: Run pytest 
       run: |
         cd ammico
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index 81e609a..35f1b6a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: install ammico
       run: |
         python -m pip install uv
-        uv pip install -e .[dev]
+        uv pip install --system -e .[dev]
     - name: set google auth
       uses: 'google-github-actions/auth@v0.4.0'
       with: