diff --git a/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
index f5f6739b..4bdd95c6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main_unit_tests.yaml
@@ -48,13 +48,6 @@ jobs:
             pip3 install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
             pip3 install -r requirements_dev.txt -c constraints.txt
 
-        - name: prepare input files
-          run: |
-            cd ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/pace
-            mkdir tests/main/input
-            python3 examples/generate_eta_files.py
-            mv *eta*.nc tests/main/input
-
         - name: run tests
           run: |
             cd ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/pace