diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
index 9378151035..fca3cc12d9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
@@ -115,6 +115,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout RMG-Py
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
+      # Step to create a custom condarc.yml before setting up conda
+      - name: Create custom condarc.yml
+        run: |
+          echo "channels:" > /home/runner/condarc.yml
+          echo "  - conda-forge" >> /home/runner/condarc.yml
+          echo "  - rmg" >> /home/runner/condarc.yml
+          echo "  - cantera" >> /home/runner/condarc.yml
+          echo "show_channel_urls: true" >> /home/runner/condarc.yml
+
       # configures the mamba environment manager and builds the environment
       - name: Setup Miniforge Python 3.7
         uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
@@ -123,6 +132,7 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-variant: Miniforge3
           miniforge-version: latest
           python-version: 3.7
+          condarc-file: /home/runner/condarc.yml
           activate-environment: rmg_env
           use-mamba: true