diff --git a/.github/workflows/core-release.yml b/.github/workflows/core-release.yml
index 63f36f826..b89ea9667 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/core-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/core-release.yml
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: recursive
+
+      - uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1
+
       - name: Build mbgl-core for Windows
         run: |
           cmake --preset windows-${{ matrix.renderer }}-core -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER=""