diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 95d34823..3d599e64 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install test dependencies
       run: |
         sudo apt update
-        sudo apt install -y podman python3-pytest python3-paramiko python3-boto3 flake8 qemu-system-x86 qemu-efi-aarch64 qemu-system-arm qemu-user-static pylint libosinfo-bin
+        sudo apt install -y podman python3-pytest python3-paramiko python3-boto3 flake8 qemu-system-x86 qemu-efi-aarch64 qemu-system-arm pylint libosinfo-bin
     - name: Diskspace (before)
       run: |
         df -h
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ jobs:
         curl -fsSL $key_url | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/devel_kubic_libcontainers_unstable.gpg > /dev/null
         sudo apt update
         sudo apt install -y podman skopeo
+    - name: Updating qemu-user
+      run: |
+        # get qemu-9 with openat2 patches
+        # XXX: remove once ubuntu ships qemu-9.1
+        sudo apt install -y software-properties-common
+        sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:mvo/qemu
+        sudo apt update
+        sudo apt install -y qemu-user-static
     - name: Install python test deps
       run: |
         # make sure test deps are available for root