diff --git a/.github/workflows/extra.yml b/.github/workflows/extra.yml
index 019e2e42b..58cc85822 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/extra.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/extra.yml
@@ -93,21 +93,17 @@ jobs:
           run: |
             conda env update --file install/gen_deps_environment.yml
 
-        - name: Install gpcam
+        - name: Install gpcam and octave
           if: matrix.python-version <= '3.12'
           run: |
             pip install gpcam
+            conda install octave
 
         - name: Install surmise
           if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest'
           run: |
             pip install --upgrade git+https://github.com/bandframework/surmise.git
 
-        - name: Install generator dependencies for Ubuntu tests
-          if: matrix.python-version <= '3.12'
-          run: |
-            conda install octave
-
         - name: Install generator dependencies for Ubuntu tests
           if: matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest' && matrix.python-version <= '3.12'
           run: |
@@ -136,20 +132,12 @@ jobs:
             pip install -e .
             flake8 libensemble
 
-        - name: Remove test for persistent Tasmanian, Surmise, octave on Python 3.12
-          if: matrix.python-version >= '3.12'
+        - name: Remove test for persistent Surmise, octave on Python 3.12
+          if: matrix.python-version >= '3.13'
           run: |
-            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_tasmanian.py
-            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_tasmanian_async.py
-            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_calib.py
-            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_surmise_killsims.py
             rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_fd_param_finder.py # needs octave, which doesn't yet support 3.13
             rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_persistent_aposmm_external_localopt.py # needs octave, which doesn't yet support 3.13
-
-        - name: Remove test for persistent gpcam Python 3.13
-          if: matrix.python-version == '3.13'
-          run: |
-            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_gpCAM.py
+            rm ./libensemble/tests/regression_tests/test_gpCAM.py # needs gpcam, which doesn't build on 3.13
 
         - name: Install redis/proxystore on Pydantic 2
           if: matrix.pydantic-version == '2.8.2'