diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-code.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-code.yml
index 7ba4c8ed9..89547dae5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-code.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-code.yml
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@ jobs:
     - name: Setup environment
       run: .github/workflows/setup.sh
 
+    # uncomment for debug purposes
+    - name: Setup upterm session
+      env:
+        AIIDA_TEST_PROFILE: test_aiida
+        AIIDA_WARN_v3: 1
+      uses: lhotari/action-upterm@v1
+
     - name: Run test suite
       env:
         AIIDA_TEST_PROFILE: test_aiida
@@ -107,6 +114,10 @@ jobs:
     - name: Setup SSH on localhost
       run: .github/workflows/setup_ssh.sh
 
+    # uncomment for debug purposes
+    - name: Setup upterm session
+      uses: lhotari/action-upterm@v1
+
     - name: Run test suite
       env:
         AIIDA_WARN_v3: 0