diff --git a/.github/ci/test.sh b/.github/ci/test.sh
index da0021684..0de265049 100755
--- a/.github/ci/test.sh
+++ b/.github/ci/test.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ export RUSTUP_HOME=/ci/cache/rustup
 export CARGO_HOME=/ci/cache/cargo
 export CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/ci/cache/target
 
+# needed for "dumb HTTP" transport support
+# used when pointing stm32-metapac to a CI-built one.
+export CARGO_NET_GIT_FETCH_WITH_CLI=true
+
 cargo test --manifest-path ./embassy-futures/Cargo.toml
 cargo test --manifest-path ./embassy-sync/Cargo.toml
 cargo test --manifest-path ./embassy-embedded-hal/Cargo.toml