diff --git a/.github/workflows/client-test.yml b/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
index 9526d612a..8b1485a47 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
@@ -75,12 +75,20 @@ jobs:
         sbt -Dsbt.build.version=$TEST_SBT_VER integrationTest/test
         # This fails due to the JLine issue
         # cd citest && ./test.sh
+    - name: build image (Windows)
+      if: ${{ matrix.os == 'windows-latest' }}
+      uses: nick-fields/retry@ce71cc2ab81d554ebbe88c79ab5975992d79ba08 # v3.0.2
+      with:
+        timeout_minutes: 10
+        max_attempts: 3
+        shell: bash
+        command: |
+          # test building sbtn on Windows
+          sbt "-Dsbt.io.virtual=false" nativeImage
     - name: Client test (Windows)
       if: ${{ matrix.os == 'windows-latest' }}
       shell: bash
       run: |
-        # test building sbtn on Windows
-        sbt "-Dsbt.io.virtual=false" nativeImage
         # smoke test native Image
         ./client/target/bin/sbtn --sbt-script=$(pwd)/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat about
         ./client/target/bin/sbtn --sbt-script=$(pwd)/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat shutdown