diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
index 8b817e1db820..1dbbbec06b1c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-compile-test.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ jobs:
         echo `pwd` && echo $HOME && ls && ls -a ~/.cime
     - name: create new case and setup
       run: |
+        mkdir ~/.cime 
+        cp /home/e3smuser/.cime/* /github/home/.cime/ 
         cd cime/scripts && ./create_newcase --mach docker --res ELM_USRDAT --compset ICB1850CNPRDCTCBC --case ~/output/ci_test \
         && cd ~/output/ci_test && ./case.setup && ./case.build