diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..220f6c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+name: build
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [ "main" ]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [ "main" ]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Set up JDK 17
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v3
+        with:
+          java-version: '17'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
+      - name: Build with Gradle
+        uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@bd5760595778326ba7f1441bcf7e88b49de61a25 # v2.6.0
+        with:
+          arguments: build
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3e90b46..2bcc445 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+![](https://github.com/vlmaier/wk/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg)
+
 # wk - the wc clone
 
 Coding Challenge #1 - Build your own wc!