diff --git a/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml b/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
index c410ab5fb..ed5025461 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/smoke-test.yml
@@ -117,11 +117,10 @@ jobs:
           options: -v ${{ github.workspace }}:${{ github.workspace }} -w ${{ github.workspace }}
           run: |
             yum install npm -y
-            adduser test
-            su test
             curl https://get.volta.sh | bash -s
             export VOLTA_HOME=$HOME/.volta
             export PATH=$VOLTA_HOME/bin:$PATH
+            export npm_config_cache=$(mktemp -d)
             ./${{ matrix.testing_target.binary_under_test }}/xtask smoke  --binary-path ./${{ matrix.testing_target.binary_under_test }}/rover --federation-version "${{ matrix.composition-version }}" --router-version "${{ matrix.router-version }}"
       - uses: volta-cli/action@v4
         if: ${{ matrix.testing_target.container_to_use == ''}}