diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_branches.yml b/.github/workflows/test_branches.yml
index 921520e5720..d671bbea9e5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_branches.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_branches.yml
@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@ jobs:
         echo "SETUPTOOLS_USE_DISTUTILS=local" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         choco install pkgconfiglite
 
+    - name: Activate the Visual Studio environemnt
+      if: matrix.TARGET == 'win'
+      uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
+
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python }}
       if: matrix.PYENV == 'pip'
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_pr_and_main.yml b/.github/workflows/test_pr_and_main.yml
index a006f6516f9..9982aabb60a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_pr_and_main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_pr_and_main.yml
@@ -246,6 +246,10 @@ jobs:
         echo "SETUPTOOLS_USE_DISTUTILS=local" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         choco install pkgconfiglite
 
+    - name: Activate the Visual Studio environemnt
+      if: matrix.TARGET == 'win'
+      uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
+
     - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python }}
       if: matrix.PYENV == 'pip'
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5