diff --git a/.github/workflows/coq-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/coq-windows.yml
index 5f870a3316..b2be4b043d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coq-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coq-windows.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ jobs:
       COQCHKEXTRAFLAGS: ""
       OPAMYES: "true"
       OPAMCONFIRMLEVEL: "unsafe-yes"
+      CC: "gcc" # there doesn't seem to be a way to make opam install cc
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4