diff --git a/.github/actions/verify-setup/action.yml b/.github/actions/verify-setup/action.yml
index 9ef8c9c6..4dae72d2 100644
--- a/.github/actions/verify-setup/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/verify-setup/action.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ runs:
         fi
         bender --version
 
-    # ccache: verilator picks it up as OBJCACHE, so the model rebuilds hit it
+    # ubuntu's verilator ships OBJCACHE empty, so the sims pass OBJCACHE=ccache
     - if: inputs.verilator == 'true'
       shell: bash
       run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/verify.yml b/.github/workflows/verify.yml
index 01e9db00..7f905c6f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/verify.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/verify.yml
@@ -154,7 +154,8 @@ jobs:
         run: uv run --locked make idma_hw_all
       -
         name: Simulate ${{ matrix.suite }}
-        run: uv run --locked make idma_verify_sim_${{ matrix.suite }} IDMA_VLT_MAKEFLAGS=-j4
+        run: uv run --locked make idma_verify_sim_${{ matrix.suite }} \
+          IDMA_VLT_MAKEFLAGS="-j4 OBJCACHE=ccache"
       -
         name: ccache statistics
         if: always()