diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/dev.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/dev.yaml
index 56ff2a3..1353242 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/dev.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/dev.yaml
@@ -35,7 +35,25 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 2
 
       - name: Set up El SDK
-        run: echo "EL_HOME=/opt/el" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+        env:
+          CHECKOUT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CHECKOUT_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          if [ -x "/opt/el/dist/platform/elc" ]; then
+            echo "EL_HOME=/opt/el" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+            echo "Using pre-installed El SDK"
+          else
+            EL_HOME="${{ github.workspace }}/../foundation-el"
+            mkdir -p "$EL_HOME/dist/platform" "$EL_HOME/el-compiler/runtime"
+            BASE_URL="https://git.neuralplatform.ai/neuron-technologies/el/releases/download/v1.2.1"
+            curl -fL -H "Authorization: token ${CHECKOUT_TOKEN}" -o "$EL_HOME/dist/platform/elc" "$BASE_URL/elc-linux-amd64"
+            curl -fL -H "Authorization: token ${CHECKOUT_TOKEN}" -o "$EL_HOME/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.c" "$BASE_URL/el_runtime.c"
+            curl -fL -H "Authorization: token ${CHECKOUT_TOKEN}" -o "$EL_HOME/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.h" "$BASE_URL/el_runtime.h"
+            curl -fL -H "Authorization: token ${CHECKOUT_TOKEN}" -o "$EL_HOME/el-compiler/runtime/el_runtime.js" "$BASE_URL/el_runtime.js"
+            chmod +x "$EL_HOME/dist/platform/elc"
+            echo "EL_HOME=$EL_HOME" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+            echo "Downloaded El SDK from release"
+          fi
 
       - name: Authenticate to GCP
         uses: google-github-actions/auth@v2