diff --git a/.github/workflows/srt.yml b/.github/workflows/srt.yml
index 34252cb63..8765650cc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/srt.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/srt.yml
@@ -79,7 +79,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: checkout externals
         run: |
           pushd cesm
-          ./manage_externals/checkout_externals ccs_config cdeps cime share mct cpl7 parallelio
+          # manage_externals does not work with the latest cime versions
+          git clone https://github.com/ESMCI/cime
+          cd cime
+          git submodule update --init
+          cd ../
+          ./manage_externals/checkout_externals ccs_config cdeps share mct cpl7 parallelio
+          cd components/cdeps
+          git checkout main
           
       - name: Cache ESMF
         id: cache-esmf