diff --git a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
index f25f1c944..148c7980c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           echo 'set man-db/auto-update false' | sudo debconf-communicate >/dev/null
           sudo dpkg-reconfigure man-db
+          sudo apt install lcov || \
           sudo apt install lcov
 
       - name: Download repository archive
diff --git a/.github/workflows/format.yml b/.github/workflows/format.yml
index f1940067d..e027c7a04 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/format.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/format.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           CI_BUILD_STAGE_NAME: build
         run: |
+          sudo apt install clang-format-18 || \
           sudo apt install clang-format-18
           git config --global user.email "action@example.com"
           git config --global user.name "github action"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-lint-py.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-lint-py.yml
index 53fbcf256..f4ad9b6e8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-lint-py.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-lint-py.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install python dependencies
         run: |
+          sudo apt install python3-clang || \
           sudo apt install python3-clang
           make venv
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-build.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-build.yml
index 1e2bd33db..068729a0d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-build.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ jobs:
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/doc/*"  | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/man/*"  | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/info/*" | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
+          sudo apt update || \
           sudo apt update
+          sudo apt install ccache mold help2man libfl-dev libgoogle-perftools-dev libsystemc-dev || \
           sudo apt install ccache mold help2man libfl-dev libgoogle-perftools-dev libsystemc-dev
 
       - name: Use saved ccache
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-run.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-run.yml
index 96bf409fb..95525125f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-run.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-rtlmeter-run.yml
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ jobs:
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/doc/*"  | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/man/*"  | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
           echo "path-exclude /usr/share/info/*" | sudo tee -a /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg.d/01_nodoc
+          sudo apt update || \
           sudo apt update
+          sudo apt install ccache mold libfl-dev libgoogle-perftools-dev libsystemc-dev || \
           sudo apt install ccache mold libfl-dev libgoogle-perftools-dev libsystemc-dev
 
       - name: Download Verilator installation archive
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 7f576d240..bf6d48e2b 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -862,7 +862,8 @@ VENV_PATH ?= .venv
 venv:
 	# Create virtual environment using the python3 picked up by configure
 	[ -e $(VENV_PATH) ] || @PYTHON3@ -m venv --system-site-packages $(VENV_PATH)
-	# Install python3 dependencies
+	# Install python3 dependencies, with explicit retry
+	$(VENV_PATH)/bin/pip3 install -r python-dev-requirements.txt || \
 	$(VENV_PATH)/bin/pip3 install -r python-dev-requirements.txt
 	@echo
 	@echo "Installed Python virtual environment, in:"
diff --git a/ci/ci-install.bash b/ci/ci-install.bash
index 4f349cc02..f28baccea 100755
--- a/ci/ci-install.bash
+++ b/ci/ci-install.bash
@@ -76,7 +76,9 @@ if [ "$CI_BUILD_STAGE_NAME" = "build" ]; then
       sudo apt-get install bear mold
     fi
   elif [ "$CI_OS_NAME" = "osx" ]; then
+    brew update ||
     brew update
+    brew install ccache perl gperftools autoconf bison flex help2man ||
     brew install ccache perl gperftools autoconf bison flex help2man
   elif [ "$CI_OS_NAME" = "freebsd" ]; then
     sudo pkg install -y autoconf bison ccache gmake perl5