diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-windows.yaml b/.github/workflows/test-windows.yaml
index c57cdf02..5456e610 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-windows.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-windows.yaml
@@ -23,13 +23,41 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.pyver }}
 
-      - name: Install code
-        run: pip install -e .
-
-      - name: lint
+      - name: install cfitsio
         run: |
-          pip install flake8
-          flake8 fitsio
+            curl.exe --output cfitsio.zip --url https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/FTP/software/fitsio/c/cfit-4.4.1.zip
+            unzip cfitsio.zip
+            cd cfit-4.4.1
+
+            mkdir build
+            cd build
+
+            cmake -G "NMake Makefiles" ^
+              -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=%LIBRARY_PREFIX% ^
+              -D CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=%LIBRARY_PREFIX% ^
+              -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ^
+              -D TESTS=On ^
+              -D UTILS=On ^
+              ..
+            if errorlevel 1 exit 1
+
+            nmake
+            if errorlevel 1 exit 1
+
+            nmake install
+            if errorlevel 1 exit 1
+
+            :: delete in case this breaks other things - only needed for compilation anyway
+            del %LIBRARY_INC%\unistd.h
+            if errorlevel 1 exit 1
+
+            cd ..
+            cd ..
+
+      - name: Install code
+        run: pip install -e . \
+            --global-option="build_ext" \
+            --global-option="--use-system-fitsio"
 
       - name: test
         run: |