diff --git a/.github/workflows/pullpreview.yml b/.github/workflows/pullpreview.yml
index 8bcb6e2..c955372 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pullpreview.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pullpreview.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ jobs:
     timeout-minutes: 30
     environment: ${{ inputs.environment || 'dev' }}
     steps:
+    - name: install dependencies
+      run: python -m pip install --upgrade pip && pip install -r requirements.txt
+
+    - name: build static assets (if frontend)
+      run: python build.py
+
     - name: configure aws credentials
       uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v2
       with: