diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
index 346b51be0..1bed8cbe3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,38 @@ on:
       - 'develop'
 
 jobs:
+  build-zeek:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        ref: ${{ github.ref }}
+        fetch-depth: ''
+
+    - name: Enable memory overcommit (for redis)
+      run: sysctl vm.overcommit_memory=1
+
+    - name: Install dependencies
+      run: sudo apt-get update --fix-missing && sudo apt-get -y --no-install-recommends install python3 redis-server python3-pip python3-certifi python3-dev build-essential file lsof net-tools iproute2 iptables python3-tzlocal nfdump tshark git whois golang nodejs notify-osd yara libnotify-bin
+
+    - name: Install Zeek
+      run: |
+        echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/security:/zeek/xUbuntu_22.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/security:zeek.list
+        curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/security:zeek/xUbuntu_22.04/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/security_zeek.gpg > /dev/null
+        sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y --no-install-recommends --fix-missing zeek
+        sudo ln -s /opt/zeek/bin/zeek /usr/local/bin/bro
+
+    - name: Cache Zeek Build
+      uses: actions/cache@v3
+      with:
+        path: /opt/zeek
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-zeek
+
   tests:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     timeout-minutes: 1800
+    # make this one depend on the first job
+    needs: build-zeek
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
@@ -71,18 +100,11 @@ jobs:
         ref: ${{ github.ref }}
         fetch-depth: ''
 
-    - name: Enable memory overcommit (for redis)
-      run: sysctl vm.overcommit_memory=1
-
-    - name: Install slips dependencies
-      run: sudo apt-get update --fix-missing && sudo apt-get -y --no-install-recommends install python3 redis-server python3-pip python3-certifi python3-dev build-essential file lsof net-tools iproute2 iptables python3-tzlocal nfdump tshark git whois golang nodejs notify-osd yara libnotify-bin
-
-    - name: Install Zeek
-      run: |
-        sudo echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/security:/zeek/xUbuntu_22.04/ /' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/security:zeek.list
-        curl -fsSL https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/security:zeek/xUbuntu_22.04/Release.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/security_zeek.gpg > /dev/null
-        sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y --no-install-recommends --fix-missing zeek
-        sudo ln -s /opt/zeek/bin/zeek /usr/local/bin/bro
+    - name: Restore Zeek Build from Cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v3
+      with:
+        path: /opt/zeek
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-zeek
 
     - name: Set up Python 3.10.12
       uses: actions/setup-python@v5