diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 4a1d2778..2adbdffd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ jobs:
     - name: Run tests
       run: python tools/pcommand pytest -v tests
     - name: Compile binary
-      run: tools/pcommand efrocache_get build/prefab/lib/windows/Debug_Win32/BallisticaCoreGenericInternal.lib        
+      run: tools/pcommand win_ci_binary_build
diff --git a/tools/batools/pcommand.py b/tools/batools/pcommand.py
index 86bcd1f3..ce89c570 100644
--- a/tools/batools/pcommand.py
+++ b/tools/batools/pcommand.py
@@ -822,3 +822,17 @@ def gen_flat_data_code() -> None:
     outpath = sys.argv[3]
     varname = sys.argv[4]
     batools.codegen.gen_flat_data_code(str(PROJROOT), inpath, outpath, varname)
+
+
+def win_ci_binary_build() -> None:
+    """Simple windows binary build for ci."""
+    import subprocess
+    subprocess.run(
+        [
+            'tools/pcommand', 'efrocache_get',
+            'build/prefab/lib/windows/Debug_Win32/'
+            'BallisticaCoreGenericInternal.lib'
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
+    print('so far so good!')
diff --git a/tools/pcommand b/tools/pcommand
index abf6fceb..331a7238 100755
--- a/tools/pcommand
+++ b/tools/pcommand
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ from batools.pcommand import (
     make_prefab, update_makebob, lazybuild, android_archive_unstripped_libs,
     efro_gradle, stage_assets, update_assets_makefile, update_project,
     update_cmake_prefab_lib, cmake_prep_dir, gen_binding_code,
-    gen_flat_data_code, wsl_path_to_win, wsl_build_check_win_drive)
+    gen_flat_data_code, wsl_path_to_win, wsl_build_check_win_drive,
+    win_ci_binary_build)
 # pylint: enable=unused-import
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING: