diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index e6553c7..43e1c88 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -26,11 +26,18 @@ jobs:
           node-version-file: .nvmrc
           cache: "pnpm"
 
-      - run: pnpm install
-      - run: pnpm test
+      - run: |
+          # install dependencies so we can build the project
+          pnpm install
+          pnpm build
+          # install the "tui" command so it's available for the next steps
+          pnpm install
 
+      - run: pnpm test
       # need to work around https://github.com/cypress-io/github-action/issues/1246
       - run: pnpm --filter integration-tests exec cypress install
+      - name: Preinstall neovim plugins
+        run: pnpm tui neovim exec "Lazy! sync"
 
       - name: Cypress run
         uses: cypress-io/github-action@v6.7.7
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a61e583..3a8f75a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
     "preinstall": "npx only-allow pnpm",
     "markdownlint": "markdownlint-cli2 README.md",
     "prettier": "prettier --check .",
-    "test": "vitest run"
+    "test": "vitest run",
+    "tui": "pnpm --filter=library build && pnpm --filter integration-tests exec tui"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "9.16.0",