diff --git a/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml b/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml
index efa6da8..845909e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml
@@ -27,6 +27,19 @@ jobs:
         with:
           extra-packages: any::covr, any::xml2, any::testthat, any::BiocNeighbors
 
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v2
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.8'
+
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install anndata
+          pip install numpy
+        env:
+          RETICULATE_PYTHON: /opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.8.10/x64/bin/python
+
       - name: Install package
         run: |
           remotes::install_local()