diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3b68fa2a6..0378cc188 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: "setup macos build environment"
       if: ${{ matrix.os == 'macos' }}
-      run: brew install protobuf automake
+      run: brew install protobuf@3.6 automake && echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/opt/protobuf@3.6/bin:$PATH"' >> /Users/runner/.bash_profile
 
     - name: "generate build scripts"
       run: ./autogen.sh