diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
index 3466edaa6e09..3e122da06364 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
@@ -41,4 +41,10 @@ jobs:
         echo " fsurdat = '/home/e3smuser/inputdata/lnd/clm2/surfdata_map/surfdata_1x1pt_teller-GRID_simyr1850_c360x720_c171002.nc'" >> user_nl_elm
         cat user_nl_elm
         ./case.setup
+    - name: compile E3SM/ELM
+      run: |
+        ./case.build
+    - name: run a short period to test if model works
+      run: |
+        ./case.submit --no-batch