diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull_requests.yml b/.github/workflows/pull_requests.yml
index 753cc8a1..a542edc0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull_requests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull_requests.yml
@@ -48,6 +48,28 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ./operator
         run: make manager
 
+  build-otelcol-sidecar:
+    name: Build otelcol sidecar
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Setup go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version: '1.21'
+          cache-dependency-path: |
+            .otelcol-builder.yaml
+            .goreleaser.yaml
+      - name: Set up QEMU
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3.0.0
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3.0.0
+      - name: Build otelcol sidecar
+        working-directory: ./sidecar/otelcol
+        run: |
+          make install-builder
+          make build
+
   test-without-helm:
     name: Test resources created without Helm chart
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
diff --git a/sidecar/otelcol/Makefile b/sidecar/otelcol/Makefile
index fe7f284b..34448b3b 100644
--- a/sidecar/otelcol/Makefile
+++ b/sidecar/otelcol/Makefile
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ build: ensure-correct-builder-version install-goreleaser
 
 .PHONY: generate-sources
 generate-sources:
-	$(BUILDER_BIN_NAME) \
+	$(BUILDER) \
 		--go $(GO) \
 		--version "$(VERSION)" \
 		--config .otelcol-builder.yaml \