diff --git a/.github/workflows/installer.yml b/.github/workflows/installer.yml
index 42522ed6a..44fe9b1c0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/installer.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/installer.yml
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ jobs:
       image: ${{ matrix.image }}
       options: --user root
     steps:
+    - name: install dependencies (pacman)
+      # Refresh the package databases to ensure that the tailscale package is
+      # defined.
+      run: pacman -Sy
+      if: contains(matrix.image, 'archlinux')
     - name: install dependencies (yum)
       # tar and gzip are needed by the actions/checkout below.
       run: yum install -y --allowerasing tar gzip ${{ matrix.deps }}
diff --git a/scripts/installer.sh b/scripts/installer.sh
index 6e905a25c..19911ee23 100755
--- a/scripts/installer.sh
+++ b/scripts/installer.sh
@@ -513,7 +513,6 @@ main() {
 			;;
 		pacman)
 			set -x
-			$SUDO pacman -Sy
 			$SUDO pacman -S tailscale --noconfirm
 			$SUDO systemctl enable --now tailscaled
 			set +x