diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-build.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-build.yml
index 3a87bf1b..c56dffa5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-build.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,13 @@ jobs:
       - name: Change hostname to localhost
         run: sudo hostname -b localhost
 
+      # Remove existing MySQL installation so it doesn't interfere with GitHub Actions
+      - name: Remove existing mysql
+        run: |
+          sudo apparmor_parser -R /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.mysqld
+          sudo apt-get remove --purge "mysql*"
+          sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql* /etc/mysql
+
       # Create local instance of ICAT
       - name: Run ICAT Ansible Playbook
         run: |
@@ -215,6 +222,13 @@ jobs:
       - name: Change hostname to localhost
         run: sudo hostname -b localhost
 
+      # Remove existing MySQL installation so it doesn't interfere with GitHub Actions
+      - name: Remove existing mysql
+        run: |
+          sudo apparmor_parser -R /etc/apparmor.d/usr.sbin.mysqld
+          sudo apt-get remove --purge "mysql*"
+          sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql* /etc/mysql
+
       # Create local instance of ICAT
       - name: Run ICAT Ansible Playbook
         run: |