diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
index 649ac3bc..03c4af1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-linux.yml
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ jobs:
         path: build-linux-deps
         fail-on-cache-miss: true
 
+    - name: Install required packages
+      shell: bash
+      run: sudo chmod 777 build_linux_deps.sh && sudo ./build_linux_deps.sh -packages_only
+
     - name: Clone third-party build helpers (build/linux)
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
diff --git a/build_linux_deps.sh b/build_linux_deps.sh
index 0ec440b9..4abb43b6 100644
--- a/build_linux_deps.sh
+++ b/build_linux_deps.sh
@@ -27,13 +27,14 @@ third_party_common_dir="$third_party_dir/deps/common/src"
 mycmake="$third_party_deps_dir/cmake-3.27.7-linux-x86_64/bin/cmake"
 
 [[ -f "$mycmake" ]] || {
-  echo "[X] Couldn't find cmake" >&2
-  exit 1
+  echo "[X] Couldn't find cmake" >&2;
+  exit 1;
 }
 
 # < 0: deduce, > 1: force
 PARALLEL_THREADS_OVERRIDE=-1
 VERBOSITY=''
+INSTALL_PACKAGES_ONLY=0
 
 for (( i=1; i<=$#; i++ )); do
   var="${!i}"
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@ for (( i=1; i<=$#; i++ )); do
     #echo "[?] Overriding parralel build jobs count with $PARALLEL_THREADS_OVERRIDE"
   elif [[ "$var" = "-verbose" ]]; then
     VERBOSITY='-v'
+  elif [[ "$var" = "-packages_only" ]]; then
+    INSTALL_PACKAGES_ONLY=1
   else
     echo "[X] Invalid arg: $var" >&2
     exit 1
@@ -54,6 +57,33 @@ for (( i=1; i<=$#; i++ )); do
 done
 
 
+last_code=0
+
+
+############## required packages ##############
+echo // installing required packages
+apt update -y
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install coreutils -y # echo, printf, etc...
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install build-essential -y
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install gcc-multilib g++-multilib -y # needed for 32-bit builds
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install clang -y
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install binutils -y # (optional) contains the tool 'readelf' mainly, and other usefull binary stuff
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+apt install tar -y # we need to extract packages
+last_code=$((last_code + $?))
+#apt install cmake git wget unzip -y
+
+# exit early if we should install packages only, used by CI mainly
+[[ "$INSTALL_PACKAGES_ONLY" -ne 0 ]] && exit $last_code
+
+echo ; echo
+
+
 # use 70%
 build_threads="$(( $(getconf _NPROCESSORS_ONLN 2>/dev/null || echo 0) * 70 / 100 ))"
 [[ $PARALLEL_THREADS_OVERRIDE -gt 0 ]] && build_threads="$PARALLEL_THREADS_OVERRIDE"
@@ -73,22 +103,6 @@ mkdir -p "$deps_dir" || {
 
 echo; echo 
 
-last_code=0
-
-
-############## required packages ##############
-echo // installing required packages
-apt update -y
-apt install coreutils -y # echo, printf, etc...
-apt install build-essential -y
-apt install gcc-multilib g++-multilib -y # needed for 32-bit builds
-apt install clang -y
-apt install binutils -y # (optional) contains the tool 'readelf' mainly, and other usefull binary stuff
-apt install tar -y # we need to extract packages
-#apt install cmake git wget unzip -y
-
-echo ; echo
-
 
 ############## copy CMAKE toolchains to the home directory
 echo // creating CMAKE toolchains in "$deps_dir"