diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_conda_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/build_conda_ci.yml
index 3d48702fd..641c8e9f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_conda_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_conda_ci.yml
@@ -160,19 +160,13 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: latest
           condarc-file: ${{ matrix.condarc }}
           python-version: ${{ matrix.pyver }}
-          environment-file: environment_build.yml
-          activate-environment: sleap_ci
           conda-solver: "libmamba"
 
-      - name: Create conda channel from artifact
-        run:
-          conda-build index $(pwd)/build
-
       - name: Search for package
-        run: conda search -c file://$(pwd)/build sleap
+        run: conda search -c $(pwd)/build sleap
 
       - name: Create conda environment
-        run: conda create -y -n sleap_test -c file://$(pwd)/build ${{ matrix.conda-channels }} sleap
+        run: conda create -y -n sleap_test -c $(pwd)/build ${{ matrix.conda-channels }} sleap
 
       - name: Activate virtual environment
         run: conda activate sleap_test