diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
index f174b03dcfe4..de8172b4201f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ jobs:
         mkdir ~/.cime 
         cp /home/e3smuser/.cime/* /github/home/.cime/
         git clone https://github.com/rfiorella/pt-e3sm-inputdata /home/e3smuser/inputdata
-        tar -xvfz /home/e3smuser/inputdata/atm/datm7/NASA_LIS/clmforc.Li_2012_climo1995-2011.T62.lnfm_c130327.nc.tar.gz
-        tar -xvfz /home/e3smuser/inputdata/atm/datm7/NASA_LIS/clmforc.Li_2012_climo1995-2011.T62.lnfm_Total_c140423.nc.tar.gz
+        cd /home/e3smuser/inputdata/atm/datm7/NASA_LIS/
+        tar -zxvf clmforc.Li_2012_climo1995-2011.T62.lnfm_c130327.nc.tar.gz
+        tar -zxvf clmforc.Li_2012_climo1995-2011.T62.lnfm_Total_c140423.nc.tar.gz
         ls -v /home/e3smuser/inputdata/atm/datm7/NASA_LIS/
     - name: create new case and setup
       run: |