diff --git a/.github/actions/fetch_ctk/action.yml b/.github/actions/fetch_ctk/action.yml
index 8365b3f2bf..18750c2d8b 100644
--- a/.github/actions/fetch_ctk/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/fetch_ctk/action.yml
@@ -146,5 +146,6 @@ runs:
       run: |
         CUDA_PATH=$(realpath "./cuda_toolkit")
         echo "CUDA_PATH=${CUDA_PATH}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        echo "CUDA_HOME=${CUDA_PATH}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         echo "${CUDA_PATH}/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
         echo "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${LD_LIBRARY_PATH:-}:${CUDA_PATH}/lib" >> $GITHUB_ENV
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
index ff5041c85c..def159f50c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
@@ -234,6 +234,9 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        env:
+          # we use self-hosted runners on which setup-python behaves weirdly...
+          AGENT_TOOLSDIRECTORY: "/opt/hostedtoolcache"
 
       - name: Set up mini CTK
         uses: ./.github/actions/fetch_ctk
@@ -255,6 +258,13 @@ jobs:
           pushd ./cuda_bindings
           pip install -r requirements.txt
           pytest -rxXs tests/
-          # TODO: enable cython tests
-          #pytest tests/cython
+          if [[ "${{ matrix.host-platform }}" == linux* ]]; then
+            # cython tests require gcc
+            apt install -y build-essential
+            bash tests_cython/build_tests.sh
+          elif [[ "${{ matrix.host-platform }}" == win* ]]; then
+            # TODO: enable this once win-64 runners are up 
+            exit 1
+          fi  
+          pytest -rxXs tests_cython
           popd
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/build_tests.sh b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/build_tests.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d18a6aaa05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/build_tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")"
+CPLUS_INCLUDE_PATH=$CUDA_HOME/include:$CPLUS_INCLUDE_PATH cythonize -3 -i test_*.pyx
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccuda.pyx b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccuda.pyx
index b216323e38..5b625ce48a 100644
--- a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccuda.pyx
+++ b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccuda.pyx
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # this software. Any use, reproduction, disclosure, or distribution of
 # this software and related documentation outside the terms of the EULA
 # is strictly prohibited.
+
+# distutils: language=c++
+
 from libc.string cimport (
     memset,
     memcmp
@@ -53,4 +56,4 @@ def test_ccuda_memcpy():
     err = ccuda.cuMemFree(dptr)
     assert(err == 0)
     err = ccuda.cuCtxDestroy(ctx)
-    assert(err == 0)
\ No newline at end of file
+    assert(err == 0)
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccudart.pyx b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccudart.pyx
index 0871da40d9..e57816989b 100644
--- a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccudart.pyx
+++ b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_ccudart.pyx
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # this software. Any use, reproduction, disclosure, or distribution of
 # this software and related documentation outside the terms of the EULA
 # is strictly prohibited.
+
+# distutils: language=c++
+
 from libc.string cimport (
     memset,
     memcmp
diff --git a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_interoperability_cython.pyx b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_interoperability_cython.pyx
index d5a045ed4c..8a42e6e334 100644
--- a/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_interoperability_cython.pyx
+++ b/cuda_bindings/tests_cython/test_interoperability_cython.pyx
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # this software. Any use, reproduction, disclosure, or distribution of
 # this software and related documentation outside the terms of the EULA
 # is strictly prohibited.
+
+# distutils: language=c++
+
 import pytest
 import cuda.cuda as cuda
 import cuda.cudart as cudart