diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_crippledfs.yml b/.github/workflows/test_crippledfs.yml
index ebd681fb..57e10185 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_crippledfs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_crippledfs.yml
@@ -11,12 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Set up system
       shell: bash
       run: |
-        bash <(wget -q -O- http://neuro.debian.net/_files/neurodebian-travis.sh)
-        # enable repo for devel git-annex, if needed
-        #sudo sed -e 's|\(deb.*data\)|#\1|' -e 's|/debian |/debian-devel |' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/neurodebian.sources.list | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/neurodebian-devel.sources.list
-        sudo apt-get update -qq
-        sudo apt-get install eatmydata
-        sudo eatmydata apt-get install git-annex-standalone dosfstools
+        sudo apt-get install dosfstools
         # 500 MB VFAT FS in a box
         sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/crippledfs.img count=500 bs=1M
         sudo mkfs.vfat /crippledfs.img
@@ -38,8 +33,12 @@ jobs:
           **/requirements*.txt
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
-        pip install -r requirements-devel.txt
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+        # install git-annex via the datalad installer
+        python -m pip install datalad-installer
+        # use recent git-annex snapshot
+        datalad-installer -E ~/dlinstaller_env.sh --sudo ok git-annex -m snapshot
+        python -m pip install -r requirements-devel.txt
     - name: Installation
       run: |
         # package install
@@ -50,6 +49,8 @@ jobs:
         # forces all test repos/paths into the VFAT FS
         TMPDIR: /crippledfs
       run: |
+        # enable git-annex
+        . ~/dlinstaller_env.sh
         mkdir -p __testhome__
         cd __testhome__
         # give detailed info on actual test setup