diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/build-python-package.yml
index 6de25261d1..30c941ad97 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-python-package.yml
@@ -14,18 +14,19 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build sdist
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install build 
+          python3 -m pip install build --user
           python3 -m build --sdist
 
       - name: Install sdist
         run: |
           ls dist
+          python3 -m pip install meson-python meson pybind11 ninja --user
           python3 -m pip install dist/*.tar.gz
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install pytest
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pip install pytest --user
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
           
   build_sdist_mac:
     runs-on: macos-latest
@@ -34,18 +35,19 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build sdist
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install build --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pip install build --user --break-system-packages
           python3 -m build --sdist
 
       - name: Install sdist
         run: |
           ls dist
-          python3 -m pip install dist/*.tar.gz --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pip install meson-python meson pybind11 ninja --user --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pip install dist/*.tar.gz
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install pytest --break-system-packages
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pip install pytest --user --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
 
   build_sdist_win:
     runs-on: windows-latest
@@ -59,18 +61,19 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build sdist
         run: |
-          python -m pip install build
+          python -m pip install build --user
           python -m build --sdist
 
       - name: Install sdist
         run: |
+          python3 -m pip install meson-python meson pybind11 ninja --user
           $item = Get-ChildItem dist
-          python -m pip install "$item"
+          python -m pip install "$item" --user
           python -c "import highspy; print(dir(highspy))"
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python -m pip install pytest
+          python -m pip install pytest --user
           python -m pytest 
              
   build_wheel_linux:
@@ -103,7 +106,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
           python3 -m pip install pytest
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
           
           
   # macos 12 is Intel
@@ -122,20 +125,20 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel
+          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel --break-system-packages
           python3 -m cibuildwheel --only cp311-macosx_x86_64 $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
 
       - name: Install wheel
         run: |
           ls wheelhouse
           python3 --version
-          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl
+          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl --break-system-packages
           python3 -c "import highspy; print(dir(highspy))"
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install pytest 
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pip install pytest --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
             
   # macos 13 is Intel
   build_wheel_macos_13:
@@ -153,20 +156,20 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel
+          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel --break-system-packages
           python3 -m cibuildwheel --only cp311-macosx_x86_64 $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
 
       - name: Install wheel
         run: |
           ls wheelhouse
           python3 --version
-          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl
+          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl --break-system-packages
           python3 -c "import highspy; print(dir(highspy))"
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install pytest
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pip install pytest --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
             
   # macos 14 is M1 (beta)
   build_wheel_macos_14:
@@ -184,20 +187,20 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build wheel
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel
+          python3 -m pip install cibuildwheel --break-system-packages
           python3 -m cibuildwheel --only cp311-macosx_arm64 $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
 
       - name: Install wheel
         run: |
           ls wheelhouse
           python3 --version
-          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl
+          python3 -m pip install wheelhouse/*.whl --break-system-packages
           python3 -c "import highspy; print(dir(highspy))"
 
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
-          python3 -m pip install pytest
-          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          python3 -m pip install pytest --break-system-packages
+          python3 -m pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/tests
 
   build_wheel_windows:
     runs-on: windows-latest
@@ -224,5 +227,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test highspy
         run: |
           python -m pip install pytest
-          python -m pytest 
-          
\ No newline at end of file
+          python -m pytest
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 11649508f9..7c760bdc9b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 "Bug Tracker" = "https://github.com/ERGO-Code/HiGHS/issues"
 
 [build-system]
-requires = ["meson-python<0.14.0", "meson>=1.2.0"]
+requires = ["meson-python<0.14.0", "meson>=1.2.0", "pybind11", "ninja"]
 build-backend = "mesonpy"
 
 [project]