diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-ui.yml b/.github/workflows/test-ui.yml
index 3ed0729f9..4cc347cd0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-ui.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-ui.yml
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - name: Install Node & dependencies
         uses: ./.github/actions/setup-vuu-ui
-      - name: Start layout server
-        run: |
-          cd ./layout-server
-          mvn spring-boot:run &
       - name: Run end-to-end tests in Chrome
         uses: cypress-io/github-action@bd9dda317ed2d4fbffc808ba6cdcd27823b2a13b
         with:
@@ -44,7 +40,7 @@ jobs:
           working-directory: ./vuu-ui
           browser: chrome
           build: npm run showcase:build
-          start: npm run showcase:preview
+          start: npm run showcase:preview, npm run layout-server
           wait-on: http://localhost:4173, http://localhost:8081
       - name: Run end-to-end tests in Edge
         uses: cypress-io/github-action@bd9dda317ed2d4fbffc808ba6cdcd27823b2a13b
@@ -53,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
           working-directory: ./vuu-ui
           browser: edge
           build: npm run showcase:build
-          start: npm run showcase:preview
+          start: npm run showcase:preview, npm run layout-server
           wait-on: http://localhost:4173, http://localhost:8081
 
   # ensure the vuu example still builds
diff --git a/vuu-ui/package.json b/vuu-ui/package.json
index badd87b1d..d84e29b51 100644
--- a/vuu-ui/package.json
+++ b/vuu-ui/package.json
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     "launch:table": "node ./scripts/launch-table.mjs",
     "launch:demo:electron": "cd tools/electron && node ./node_modules/.bin/electron .",
     "launch:showcase": " cd showcase && node scripts/launch.mjs",
+    "layout-server": "cd ../layout-server && mvn spring-boot:run",
     "deploy:websocket-test": "node ./tools/deploy-websocket-test.mjs",
     "view-bundle": "node ./scripts/visualize-bundle.mjs",
     "type-defs": "node ./scripts/build-all-type-defs.mjs",