diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3fca337..6d1b714 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,29 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
 
+  unit-tests:
+    name: Unit tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+    - name: Checkout code
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+    - name: Set up Python
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+
+    - name: Install dependencies for testing
+      run: |
+        pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
+
+    - name: Run tests
+      run: |
+        ./run_tests
+
+
   build:
     name: Build charms
+    needs: unit-tests
     uses: canonical/data-platform-workflows/.github/workflows/build_charms_with_cache.yaml@v4
     with:
       artifact-name: charm-packed
diff --git a/tests/test_charm.py b/tests/test_charm.py
index 6b03344..8b46f18 100644
--- a/tests/test_charm.py
+++ b/tests/test_charm.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def test_website_relation_joined(self, open, ingress_address):
         harness = Harness(JujuControllerCharm)
         self.addCleanup(harness.cleanup)
         harness.begin()
+        harness.set_leader()
         relation_id = harness.add_relation('website', 'haproxy')
         harness.add_relation_unit(relation_id, 'haproxy/0')