diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index fcda4ba..adacf71 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -156,3 +156,40 @@ jobs:
           meta_releases_dict = json.loads('${{ steps.test-set-meta-releases.outputs.meta-releases-dict }}')
           assert isinstance(meta_releases_dict, dict)
           assert len(meta_releases_dict) > 0
+
+  test-install-cylc-components:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        action: ['setup-python', 'setup-micromamba']
+    steps:
+      - name: checkout repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: setup python
+        if: matrix.action == 'setup-python'
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+
+      - name: setup python
+        if: matrix.action == 'setup-micromamba'
+        uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v2
+        with:
+          cache-environment: true
+          post-cleanup: 'all'
+          environment-name: test
+          create-args:
+            python=3.10
+
+      - name: install-cylc-components
+        uses: ./install-cylc-components
+        with:
+          cylc_flow: true
+          cylc_flow_tag: 8.4.0
+
+      - name: test
+        shell: bash -elo pipefail {0}
+        run: |
+          [[ $(cylc version) == 8.4.0 ]]
diff --git a/install-cylc-components/action.yml b/install-cylc-components/action.yml
index 998f426..5e9167d 100644
--- a/install-cylc-components/action.yml
+++ b/install-cylc-components/action.yml
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ runs:
   using: composite
   steps:
     - name: Fetch meta-release info
-      shell: bash
+      # NOTE: use login shell to allow us to work with setup-micromamba
+      shell: bash -elo pipefail {0}
       run: |
         wget \
           https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cylc/cylc-admin/master/docs/status/branches.json
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ runs:
         (inputs.metomi_rose == 'true' && !inputs.metomi_rose_tag) ||
         (inputs.cylc_rose == 'true' && !inputs.cylc_rose_tag)
       id: get_tag
-      shell: bash
+      shell: bash -elo pipefail {0}
       env:
         META_RELEASE: ${{ inputs.meta_release }}
         BASE_BRANCH: ${{ github.base_ref || github.ref }}
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ runs:
       run: "${{ github.action_path }}/../bin/pick_compatible_branches"
 
     - name: Install
-      shell: bash
+      shell: bash -elo pipefail {0}
       env:
         cylc_flow: ${{ inputs.cylc_flow_tag     || steps.get_tag.outputs.cylc_flow }}
         cylc_uis:  ${{ inputs.cylc_uiserver_tag || steps.get_tag.outputs.cylc_uiserver }}