diff --git a/.flake8 b/.flake8
index 84252c8..25b33fb 100644
--- a/.flake8
+++ b/.flake8
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 [flake8]
-extend-exclude = _skbuild/,siliconcompiler/
+extend-exclude = .venv/,siliconcompiler/
 max-line-length = 100
 ignore =
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index 33643ba..c49fcff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -26,5 +26,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Lint with Flake8
         run: |
-          python -m pip install flake8 -c ./requirements.txt
+          python3 -m venv .venv
+          . .venv/bin/activate
+
+          python3 -m pip install flake8 -c ./requirements.txt
           flake8 --statistics .
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 034b966..809bf75 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Run Python tests
         run: |
+          python3 -m venv .venv
+          . .venv/bin/activate
+
           python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python3 -m pip install .[test]
-          pytest -m "not wheel"
+
+          # change running directory
+          mkdir testrun
+          cd testrun
+
+          pytest $GITHUB_WORKSPACE -m "not wheel"
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f17200b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+collect_ignore = [
+    "siliconcompiler/"
+]
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d8e77aa..38ab6d1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 markers = [
     "wheel: wheel only tests."
 ]
-testpaths = "tests"
+testpaths = [
+    "tests"
+]
 pythonpath = [
-  "siliconcompiler/siliconcompiler/toolscripts"
+    "siliconcompiler/siliconcompiler/toolscripts"
 ]