diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index f04e1a3d..1014d541 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ jobs:
       LC_ALL: en_US.UTF-8
       TZ: America/Los_Angeles
       CI_TEST_LEVEL: "2"
+      USER: runner
 
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
@@ -28,8 +29,29 @@ jobs:
       with:
         submodules: true
 
+    - name: Probe Build Environment
+      run: |
+        id
+        echo USER is $USER
+        uname -a
+        echo pwd
+        pwd
+        echo os-release
+        cat /etc/os-release
+        echo attempting sudo
+        sudo whoami
+        echo mounts
+        sudo mount
+        echo what is in /proc?
+        sudo ls /proc
+        echo systemd?
+        echo systemd
+        echo exists?
+        ls /run/systemd
+        echo OK
+      
     - name: Install Nix
-      uses: cachix/install-nix-action@v16
+      uses: kquick/install-nix-action@master
       with:
         nix_path: nixpkgs=channel:nixos-21.11
         install_url: https://releases.nixos.org/nix/nix-2.4/install