diff --git a/.github/workflows/extbuild.yml b/.github/workflows/extbuild.yml
index a558fa57..c5cce228 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/extbuild.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/extbuild.yml
@@ -89,12 +89,11 @@ jobs:
           esmfmkfile: $HOME/ESMF/lib/libg/Linux.gfortran.64.openmpi.default/esmf.mk
           pio_path: $HOME/pio
           src_root: ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/cdeps-src
-          cmake_flags: " -Wno-dev -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=DEBUG -DWERROR=ON  -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS=\"-DCPRGNU -g -Wall \
+          cmake_flags: " -Wno-dev -DDISABLE_FOX=ON -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=DEBUG -DWERROR=ON  -DCMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS=\"-DCPRGNU -g -Wall \
           -ffree-form -ffree-line-length-none -fallow-argument-mismatch \""
       
       - name: Build CMEPS
         run: |
-          export ESMFMKFILE=$HOME/ESMF/lib/libg/Linux.gfortran.64.openmpi.default/esmf.mk
           export PIO=$HOME/pio
           mkdir build-cmeps
           pushd build-cmeps