diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcfa280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+name: build nixos hosts
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - ci
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/nix-installer-action@v14
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/magic-nix-cache-action@v8
+      - uses: DeterminateSystems/flake-checker-action@v9
+
+      - name: Build NixOS hosts
+        run: nix develop -c colmena build
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 77d33cb..0029480 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@
         (host: modules: {
           imports = commonModules ++ modules;
           deployment.targetHost = "${host}.ocf.berkeley.edu";
-          deployment.buildOnTarget = true;
           deployment.targetUser = "root";
           deployment.allowLocalDeployment = true;
         })