diff --git a/.github/ci/build-stable.sh b/.github/ci/build-stable.sh
index 0dadd6102..8012f6923 100755
--- a/.github/ci/build-stable.sh
+++ b/.github/ci/build-stable.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ export RUSTUP_HOME=/ci/cache/rustup
 export CARGO_HOME=/ci/cache/cargo
 export CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/ci/cache/target
 
+# needed for "dumb HTTP" transport support
+# used when pointing stm32-metapac to a CI-built one.
+export CARGO_NET_GIT_FETCH_WITH_CLI=true
+
 hashtime restore /ci/cache/filetime.json || true
 hashtime save /ci/cache/filetime.json
 
diff --git a/.github/ci/build.sh b/.github/ci/build.sh
index 36bf7e7dc..78ab976df 100755
--- a/.github/ci/build.sh
+++ b/.github/ci/build.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ if [ -f /ci/secrets/teleprobe-token.txt ]; then
     export TELEPROBE_CACHE=/ci/cache/teleprobe_cache.json
 fi
 
+# needed for "dumb HTTP" transport support
+# used when pointing stm32-metapac to a CI-built one.
+export CARGO_NET_GIT_FETCH_WITH_CLI=true
+
 hashtime restore /ci/cache/filetime.json || true
 hashtime save /ci/cache/filetime.json
 
diff --git a/.github/ci/test.sh b/.github/ci/test.sh
index 04f4fc7c4..af0f21c2a 100755
--- a/.github/ci/test.sh
+++ b/.github/ci/test.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ export RUSTUP_HOME=/ci/cache/rustup
 export CARGO_HOME=/ci/cache/cargo
 export CARGO_TARGET_DIR=/ci/cache/target
 
+# needed for "dumb HTTP" transport support
+# used when pointing stm32-metapac to a CI-built one.
+export CARGO_NET_GIT_FETCH_WITH_CLI=true
+
 hashtime restore /ci/cache/filetime.json || true
 hashtime save /ci/cache/filetime.json