diff --git a/.github/workflows/spack.yml b/.github/workflows/spack.yml
index 577bbdd1..64c47711 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/spack.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/spack.yml
@@ -5,8 +5,13 @@ jobs:
   job_one:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
+      - name: grab main project
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          path: ${{ github.workspace }}/../../
+
       - run: |
-          env | sort
+
           pwd
           ls -la
           tree -L 2