diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
index 9a7ae677a5c..61f969c7942 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-wheel-linux.yml
@@ -366,6 +366,18 @@ jobs:
           host-platform: ${{ inputs.host-platform }}
           cuda-version: ${{ matrix.CUDA_VER }}
 
+      - name: Set up cuda_gdb
+        # $/ loads the action from the workflow's commit: the inputs.sha
+        # checkout can predate install-mode, and ./ would then wipe the mini CTK.
+        if: ${{ matrix.LOCAL_CTK == '1' && env.TEST_CORE == 'true' }}
+        uses: $/.github/actions/fetch_ctk
+        continue-on-error: false
+        with:
+          host-platform: ${{ inputs.host-platform }}
+          cuda-version: ${{ matrix.CUDA_VER }}
+          cuda-components: "cuda_gdb"
+          install-mode: add
+
       - name: Set up cuda_sanitizer_api
         if: ${{ (env.TEST_BINDINGS == 'true' || env.TEST_CORE == 'true') && env.SETUP_SANITIZER == '1' }}
         uses: ./.github/actions/fetch_ctk