diff --git a/.github/workflows/foreign.yml b/.github/workflows/foreign.yml
index 671d9a90c..a279e367a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/foreign.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/foreign.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: vmactions/omnios-vm@v1
         with:
-          prepare: pkg install pip-311 python-311 sqlite-3 nginx
+          # need gcc installed to compile greenlet from source
+          prepare: pkg install pip-311 python-311 sqlite-3 nginx gcc13
           usesh: true
           copyback: false
           run: |