diff --git a/.github/actions/setup-python-bindings/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup-python-bindings/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57a1fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/setup-python-bindings/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: Setup Python bindings
+description: Install Python headers, create venv, install maturin, and build the taxonomy Python extension
+
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - name: Install python headers
+      run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y python3-dev python3-pip python3-venv
+      shell: bash
+
+    - name: Install maturin
+      run: |
+        python3 -m venv venv
+        . venv/bin/activate
+        pip install --upgrade pip
+        pip install maturin downloads pytest
+        pip show maturin
+      shell: bash
+
+    - name: Add library to venv
+      run: |
+        . venv/bin/activate
+        maturin develop --features=python
+      shell: bash
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_ncbi.yml b/.github/workflows/test_ncbi.yml
index c01204a..b2ece7f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_ncbi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_ncbi.yml
@@ -20,20 +20,8 @@ jobs:
           toolchain: stable
           override: true
 
-      - name: Install python headers
-        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-pip python3-venv
-
-      - name: Install python dependencies
-        run: |
-          python3 -m venv venv
-          . venv/bin/activate
-          pip3 install maturin downloads pytest
-          pip3 show maturin
-
-      - name: Add library to venv
-        run: |
-          . venv/bin/activate
-          maturin develop --features=python
+      - name: Setup Python bindings
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-python-bindings
 
       - name: Test Python bindings with latest NCBI taxonomy
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index b7cba3a..447513c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -39,24 +39,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: version info
         run:  rustc --version; cargo --version;
 
+      - name: Setup Python bindings
+        uses: ./.github/actions/setup-python-bindings
+
       - name: Run all tests
         run: cargo test --features=python_test
 
-      - name: Install python headers
-        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-pip python3-venv
-
-      - name: Install maturin
-        run: |
-          python3 -m venv venv
-          . venv/bin/activate
-          pip3 install maturin downloads pytest
-          pip3 show maturin
-
-      - name: add library to venv
-        run: |
-          . venv/bin/activate
-          maturin develop --features=python
-
       - name: Run the python tests
         run: |
           . venv/bin/activate