diff --git a/.github/workflows/bookdown_action.yml b/.github/workflows/bookdown_action.yml
index 483aabc..bd415b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/bookdown_action.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/bookdown_action.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: r-lib/actions/setup-r@v2
         with:
           use-public-rspm: true
+
+      - name: Install system dependencies
+        run: |
+          sh sys_deps/sys_deps.sh
 # potentially drop to keep from locking package versions
 # look into how this impacts build 
       - uses: r-lib/actions/setup-renv@v2
@@ -31,10 +35,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install libgit2
         run: sudo apt install libgit2-dev
         
-      - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: |
-          sh sys_deps/sys_deps.sh
-        
       - name: Cache bookdown results
         uses: actions/cache@v2
         with: