diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 43849d9c78..3c69cfc8c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -61,14 +61,46 @@ jobs:
   # build
   #############################################################################
 
+  build_macos:
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: true
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/setup-java@v5
+        with:
+          java-version: ${{ env.JAVA_VERSION }}
+          distribution: ${{ env.java_distribution }}
+          cache: maven
+      - name: setup cvmfs
+        uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@v5
+        with:
+          cvmfs_repositories: 'oasis.opensciencegrid.org'
+      - name: cvmfs
+        run: ls /cvmfs/oasis.opensciencegrid.org/jlab/hallb/clas12/sw/noarch/data/ccdb/ccdb_latest.sqlite
+      - name: bump version to tag if tag trigger
+        if: ${{ github.ref_type == 'tag' }}
+        run: libexec/version-bump.sh ${{ github.ref_name }}
+      - name: build
+        run: |
+          ./build-coatjava.sh --lfs --no-progress -T${{ env.nthreads }}
+          ./bin/install-clara -b -c ./coatjava ./clara
+      - name: tar # tarball to preserve permissions
+        run: |
+          tar czvf coatjava.tar.gz coatjava
+          tar czvf clara.tar.gz clara
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
+        with:
+          name: build_macos
+          retention-days: 1
+          path: |
+              coatjava.tar.gz
+              clara.tar.gz
+
   build:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: true
-      matrix:
-        runner:
-          - ubuntu-latest
-          - macos-latest
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - uses: actions/setup-java@v5
@@ -95,7 +127,7 @@ jobs:
           tar czvf clara.tar.gz clara
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
         with:
-          name: build_${{ matrix.runner }}
+          name: build_ubuntu-latest
           retention-days: 1
           path: |
               coatjava.tar.gz
@@ -251,8 +283,6 @@ jobs:
           - { id: eb-epc,   cmd: ./run-eb-tests.sh -100 electronprotonC  }
           - { id: eb-enc,   cmd: ./run-eb-tests.sh -100 electronneutronC }
           - { id: eb-eftpi, cmd: ./run-eb-tests.sh -100 electronFTpion   }
-          # run one macos test
-          - { runner: macos-latest, id: eb-ep, cmd: ./run-eb-tests.sh -100 electronproton }
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.runner }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
@@ -280,6 +310,36 @@ jobs:
           echo "COMMAND: ${{ matrix.cmd }}"
           ${{ matrix.cmd }}
 
+  test_coatjava_macos:
+    needs: [ build_macos ]
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: true
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Set up JDK
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v5
+        with:
+          java-version: ${{ env.JAVA_VERSION }}
+          distribution: ${{ env.java_distribution }}
+          cache: maven
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v8
+        with:
+          name: build_macos
+      - uses: cvmfs-contrib/github-action-cvmfs@v5
+        with:
+          cvmfs_repositories: 'oasis.opensciencegrid.org'
+      - name: untar build
+        run: |
+          tar xzvf coatjava.tar.gz
+          tar xzvf clara.tar.gz
+      - name: run test
+        run: |
+          git lfs install
+          git submodule update --init validation/advanced-tests/data
+          cd validation/advanced-tests
+          ./run-eb-tests.sh -100 electronproton
+
   test_run-groovy:
     needs: [ build ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest