diff --git a/.github/workflows/go-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/go-tests.yml
index f1f45adfb53..9f2c0b1a4a5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/go-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/go-tests.yml
@@ -128,10 +128,14 @@ jobs:
       with:
         go-version: "1.22"
 
-    - name: Run "make generate" and check for changes
+    - name: Run "go generate" and check for changes
       run: |
         set -e
-        sudo apt -qq -y -o=Dpkg::Use-Pty=0 install protobuf-compiler
+        # ensure the version of 'protoc' matches the one that generated the files
+        PROTOBUF_VERSION="21.10"
+        curl -OL https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v${PROTOBUF_VERSION}/protoc-${PROTOBUF_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip
+        unzip protoc-${PROTOBUF_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip -d $HOME/.protoc
+        export PATH="$HOME/.protoc/bin:$PATH"
         go install google.golang.org/protobuf/cmd/protoc-gen-go@v1.34.2
         go install google.golang.org/grpc/cmd/protoc-gen-go-grpc@v1.5.1
         go generate ./...