diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 404ba07cfc5..7451e82160b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         echo "Running checks..."
         ./ietf/manage.py check
+        ./ietf/manage.py migrate || true
+        echo "USE_TZ = True" >> ./ietf/settings_local.py
         ./ietf/manage.py migrate
         echo "Validating migrations..."
         if ! ( ietf/manage.py makemigrations --dry-run --check --verbosity 3 ) ; then