diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 9f578007e4..8f00ed8e1d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -672,6 +672,7 @@ jobs:
           find . \( -name '*.exe' -o -name '*.dll' -o -name '*.a' \) -exec file '{}' \;
 
       - name: 'build tests'
+        if: ${{ matrix.build == 'cmake' }}  # skip for autotools to save time
         run: |
           PATH="$HOME/opt/mingw32ce/bin:$PATH"
           if [ '${{ matrix.build }}' = 'cmake' ]; then
@@ -681,6 +682,7 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: 'build examples'
+        if: ${{ matrix.build == 'cmake' }}  # skip for autotools to save time
         run: |
           PATH="$HOME/opt/mingw32ce/bin:$PATH"
           if [ '${{ matrix.build }}' = 'cmake' ]; then