diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index d93dd7a..8c396a8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -50,19 +50,24 @@ jobs:
           octave --eval "pkg uninstall doctest; pkg list"
 
   appstream-validate:
-    runs-on: fedora:40
+    # maybe a later Ubuntu will have appstream >= 1, for now we pull from flatpak
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Install Appstream
+      - name: Install Flatpak
         run: |
-          sudo uname -a
-          sudo dnf install -y appstream
-          appstreamcli --version
+          whoami
+          uname -a
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y flatpak
+          sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
+          sudo flatpak install -y org.freedesktop.appstream.cli
       - name: Validate
         run: |
           pwd
           ls
-          appstreamcli validate --strict --pedantic --explain io.github.gnu_octave.doctest.metainfo.xml
+          flatpak run org.freedesktop.appstream.cli --version
+          flatpak run org.freedesktop.appstream.cli validate --strict --pedantic --explain io.github.gnu_octave.doctest.metainfo.xml
 
   # Built-in Self Tests for various supported Octave
   # TODO: fail-fast -> true later