diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
index 75bd1c377..60007abfb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-docs.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ jobs:
       - uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v2.0.4
         with:
           environment-file: ./environment.yml
+      - name: Install system dependencies
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y texlive-fonts-extra
+          sudo fc-cache -fv
+        # need tex-gyre-hero fonts to show text in geo plots
       - name: "Build docs"
         shell: bash -el {0}
         run: |