diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index daa58e571..2537821fd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -266,11 +266,14 @@ jobs:
           go-version: ${{ needs.build.outputs.golangversion }}
           check-latest: true
 
-      - name: cache
+      - name: Download cache
         uses: actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b85d4f404e444e00e005971372dc801d16 # v4.1.8
         with:
           name: docker.tar.gz
 
+      - name: Load cache
+        run: gzip --decompress --stdout docker.tar.gz | docker load
+
       - name: fix permissions
         run: |
           sudo mkdir -p $HOME/.kube
@@ -281,11 +284,6 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           kind create cluster --image=kindest/node:${{ matrix.k8s }}
 
-      - name: Load images from cache
-        run: |
-          echo "loading docker images..."
-          gzip -dc docker.tar.gz | docker load
-
       - name: Test
         env:
           KIND_CLUSTER_NAME: kind