diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/test_ci.yml
index 54c516721..7b4bae3be 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_ci.yml
@@ -116,10 +116,14 @@ jobs:
         run: cargo test --all --locked ${{ env.CARGO_PROFILE_TARGET_FEATURES_ARGS }}
         shell: bash
         if: matrix.cross != 'true'
-
+      # now do a standard build
+      - name: "cargo build --all --locked ${{ env.CARGO_PROFILE_TARGET_FEATURES_ARGS }}"
+        run: cargo build --all --locked ${{ env.CARGO_PROFILE_TARGET_FEATURES_ARGS }}
+        shell: bash
+        if: matrix.cross != 'true'
 
       # matrix items USING CROSS
-      - name: cross cargo test --target ${{ matrix.target }} ${{ env.CROSS_ARGS }}
+      - name: "cross cargo test --target ${{ matrix.target }} ${{ env.CROSS_ARGS }}"
         uses: houseabsolute/actions-rust-cross@v1.0.1
         env:
           RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }}
@@ -129,3 +133,14 @@ jobs:
           toolchain: stable
           args: "${{ env.CROSS_ARGS }}"
         if: matrix.cross == 'true'
+
+      - name: "cross cargo build --target ${{ matrix.target }} ${{ env.CROSS_ARGS }}"
+        uses: houseabsolute/actions-rust-cross@v1.0.1
+        env:
+          RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }}
+        with:
+          command: "build"
+          target: ${{ matrix.target }}
+          toolchain: stable
+          args: "${{ env.CROSS_ARGS }}"
+        if: matrix.cross == 'true'