diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-images.yml b/.github/workflows/build-images.yml
index aca3f9ed..bac02d41 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-images.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-images.yml
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Install Dependencies
       run: |
+        sudo rm -f /var/lib/man-db/auto-update
         sudo apt update
         sudo apt-get install -y coreutils p7zip-full qemu-user-static qemu-utils lz4
 
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo rm -rf /usr/local/share/boost
           sudo rm -rf "$AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY"
           sudo rm -rf /usr/local/lib/android
+          sudo rm -f /var/lib/man-db/auto-update
           sudo apt-get autoremove -y >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
           sudo apt-get autoclean -y >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
           echo "remaining space now $(df -h .)"
diff --git a/src/build_dist b/src/build_dist
index ea3cedae..3730ca82 100755
--- a/src/build_dist
+++ b/src/build_dist
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ if [[ "$VARIANT" == "dietpi"* ]] ; then
     touch "$MNT_DIR"/opt/adsb/os.adsb.feeder.image
     touch "$MNT_DIR"/opt/adsb/adsb.im.passwd.and.keys
 
+    # speed up apt-get operations by not rebuilding the man-db cache:
+    rm -f "$MNT_DIR"/var/lib/man-db/auto-update
+
     # make systemd journal persistent for dietpi
     sed -i -e 's/.*Storage=.*/Storage=persistent/' "$MNT_DIR/etc/systemd/journald.conf"
     sed -i -e 's/.*RuntimeMaxUse=.*/RuntimeMaxUse=10M/' /etc/systemd/journald.conf
diff --git a/src/modules/adsb-feeder/start_chroot_script b/src/modules/adsb-feeder/start_chroot_script
index ff9c01d0..fab50d6f 100644
--- a/src/modules/adsb-feeder/start_chroot_script
+++ b/src/modules/adsb-feeder/start_chroot_script
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ install_cleanup_trap
 
 unpack /filesystem/root /
 
+# speed up apt-get operations by not rebuilding the man-db cache:
+rm -f /var/lib/man-db/auto-update
+
 # free up space
 apt-get autoremove -y gcc-12 dpkg-dev gdb build-essential mkvtoolnix iso-codes shared-mime-info rpicam-apps-lite\* || true