diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows_unit_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/windows_unit_tests.yml
index 64a870bed..05b378326 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows_unit_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows_unit_tests.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           activate-environment: test
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - name: Install MPI
+        shell: cmd
+        run: |
+          conda install -c conda-forge mpi4py msmpi
+          python -c "from mpi4py import MPI"
       - name: Install Neuron on Windows separately
         shell: cmd
         run: |