diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package-conda.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package-conda.yml
index 544a46ef..bcd4c8a9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package-conda.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package-conda.yml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Test with pytest
       run: |
         conda install pytest
-        source activate base & pytest tests
+        source activate base & pytest -s tests
 
 
   build-windows:
@@ -85,4 +85,4 @@ jobs:
     - name: Test with pytest
       run: |
         conda install pytest
-        source activate base & pytest -s tests
+        source activate base & pytest -s tests 
diff --git a/tests/test_ping.py b/tests/test_ping.py
index 912eae9f..6f0628b5 100644
--- a/tests/test_ping.py
+++ b/tests/test_ping.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from cloudmesh.common.Printer import Printer
 from cloudmesh.common.StopWatch import StopWatch
 from cloudmesh.common.util import HEADING
+from distutils.util import strtobool
 
 Benchmark.debug()
 
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@
 
 # https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/1519 ping does not work in github runner so we skip it.
 import os
-github_action = os.getenv('GITHUB_ACTIONS')
+github_action = strtobool(os.getenv('GITHUB_ACTIONS', 'false'))
 
 # multiping only works if you have root, so we can not use it
 # from multiping import MultiPing