diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 187d95b4c..b2b45b998 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ jobs:
             python-version: 3.9
             name: Py3.9 all dev
             toxenv: py39-test-viz-noviz-docs-dev
-          - os: ubuntu-18.04
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
             python-version: 3.8
             name: Py3.8 mindeps and CASA
             toxenv: py38-test-casa
diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 5f368b1a6..49e20fdb5 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 0.6.3.dev (unreleased)
 ----------------------
-- none yet
+- Find beam table from EXT name and CI fix #879
 
 0.6.2 (2023-06-23)
 ------------------
diff --git a/spectral_cube/conftest.py b/spectral_cube/conftest.py
index 59fb59b68..0d7c158bf 100644
--- a/spectral_cube/conftest.py
+++ b/spectral_cube/conftest.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def prepare_4_beams():
     beams['BPA'] = [0,45,60,30] # degrees
     beams['CHAN'] = [0,1,2,3]
     beams['POL'] = [0,0,0,0]
-    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams)
+    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams, name='BEAMS')
 
     beams.header['TTYPE1'] = 'BMAJ'
     beams.header['TUNIT1'] = 'arcsec'
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def prepare_4_beams_withfullpol():
 
     beams['POL'] = pol_codes
 
-    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams)
+    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams, name='BEAMS')
 
     beams.header['TTYPE1'] = 'BMAJ'
     beams.header['TUNIT1'] = 'arcsec'
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ def prepare_5_beams():
     beams['BPA'] = [0,45,60,30,0] # degrees
     beams['CHAN'] = [0,1,2,3,4]
     beams['POL'] = [0,0,0,0,0]
-    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams)
+    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams, name='BEAMS')
     beams.header['TTYPE1'] = 'BMAJ'
     beams.header['TUNIT1'] = 'arcsec'
     beams.header['TTYPE2'] = 'BMIN'
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ def prepare_5_beams_with_pixscale(pixel_scale):
     beams['BPA'] = [0,45,60,30,0] # degrees
     beams['CHAN'] = [0,1,2,3,4]
     beams['POL'] = [0,0,0,0,0]
-    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams)
+    beams = fits.BinTableHDU(beams, name='BEAMS')
 
     beams.header['TTYPE1'] = 'BMAJ'
     beams.header['TUNIT1'] = 'arcsec'
diff --git a/spectral_cube/io/fits.py b/spectral_cube/io/fits.py
index 934534719..23daf0249 100644
--- a/spectral_cube/io/fits.py
+++ b/spectral_cube/io/fits.py
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ def read_data_fits(input, hdu=None, mode='denywrite', **kwargs):
             if isinstance(hdu_item, (fits.PrimaryHDU, fits.ImageHDU)):
                 arrays[ihdu] = hdu_item
             elif isinstance(hdu_item, fits.BinTableHDU):
-                if 'BPA' in hdu_item.data.names:
+                # Check for CASA-standard beam table
+                if hdu_item.header.get('EXTNAME') == 'BEAMS':
                     beam_table = hdu_item.data
 
                     # Check that the table has the expected form for beam units: