diff --git a/.github/workflows/solus-eopkg-build.yml b/.github/workflows/solus-eopkg-build.yml
index 7fa89fb0..a11ece56 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/solus-eopkg-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/solus-eopkg-build.yml
@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@ jobs:
               # conflict with openssl 3.x when the package set is refreshed.
               # Allowing file-conflict resolution keeps the CI image usable
               # long enough to install ypkg and complete the package build.
-              eopkg install -y --ignore-file-conflicts ypkg git
+              # The base image does not guarantee Meson toolchain packages,
+              # while our package.yml setup phase calls meson directly.
+              # Install the essential build tools up front to avoid
+              # `/tmp/ypkg-setup*: meson: command not found` failures.
+              eopkg install -y --ignore-file-conflicts \
+                ypkg git meson ninja pkgconfig gcc gettext
               ypkg build "$PACKAGE_YML"
               mkdir -p /workspace/artifacts
               find . -maxdepth 3 -name "*.eopkg" -type f -exec cp -v {} /workspace/artifacts/ \;