diff --git a/.github/actions/build-test-container/action.yaml b/.github/actions/build-test-container/action.yaml
index df8319ec..06ab3b86 100644
--- a/.github/actions/build-test-container/action.yaml
+++ b/.github/actions/build-test-container/action.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ inputs:
   python-version:
     description: Python version to setup
     required: true
+  load:
+    required: false
+    description: |
+      if true, load the docker container into docker for downstream consumption
+    default: ''
 
 runs:
   using: composite
@@ -28,7 +33,7 @@ runs:
         cache-from: type=gha
         cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
         push: false
-        load: false
+        load: ${{ inputs.load == 'true' }}
         tags: snakebids/test-template:${{ inputs.python-version }}
         platforms: linux/amd64
         build-args: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index b2ed01af..43f71f36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: ./.github/actions/build-test-container
         with:
           python-version: ${{ steps.setup.outputs.python-version }}
+          load: true
 
       - name: Test with pytest
         env: