diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-dev-mac-x64.yml b/.github/workflows/build-dev-mac-x64.yml
index c7c3222..8135837 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-dev-mac-x64.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-dev-mac-x64.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ jobs:
       - run: npm install --production --ignore-scripts
       - run: npm install --production
         working-directory: nexe
+      - run: pip install pipes
       - run: node build
         working-directory: nexe
       - run: nexe/parpar --version
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-dev-win64.yml b/.github/workflows/build-dev-win64.yml
index 681a67d..d6f22be 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-dev-win64.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-dev-win64.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ jobs:
       - run: npm install --production --ignore-scripts
       - run: npm install --production
         working-directory: nexe
+      # diagnose weird execution failure
+      - run: C:\Program Files\Git\usr\bin\sed -i "s/child_process_1\.spawn/this.log.step('Executing ' + command + ' ' + args); \0/" node_modules/nexe/lib/compiler.js
+        working-directory: nexe
       - run: node build
         working-directory: nexe
       - run: nexe\parpar.exe --version
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 1680b80..bcf7fd2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ jobs:
       - run: npm install --production --ignore-scripts
       - run: npm install --production
         working-directory: nexe
+      - run: pip install pipes
       - run: node build
         working-directory: nexe
       - run: nexe/parpar --version