diff --git a/.github/workflows/ngen_integration.yaml b/.github/workflows/ngen_integration.yaml
index c761ce0..3f20257 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ngen_integration.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ngen_integration.yaml
@@ -45,12 +45,6 @@ jobs:
           mkdir ${{runner.temp}}/smp
           mv ./* ${{runner.temp}}/smp
 
-      # Checks-out your repository under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, so your job can access it
-      - name: checkout actions in another repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          repository: noaa-owp/ngen
-
       - name: Build CFE
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -60,7 +54,15 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           cmake -B cmake_build -S . -DNGEN=ON
           make -C cmake_build
-  
+
+      # Checks-out your repository under $GITHUB_WORKSPACE, so your job can access it
+      # Checkout ngen after cfe checkout so $GITHUB_WORKSPACE doesn't get clobbered
+      # otherwise the submod action isn't available
+      - name: checkout actions in another repo
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: noaa-owp/ngen
+
       - name: Build Topmodel
         id: submod_build_2
         uses: ./.github/actions/ngen-submod-build