diff --git a/.github/workflows/mkosi.yml b/.github/workflows/mkosi.yml
index c7508a5bd9..d1f9891062 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mkosi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mkosi.yml
@@ -48,8 +48,14 @@ jobs:
     - name: Build ${{ matrix.distro }}
       run: sudo python3 -m mkosi --password= --qemu-headless build
 
+    # Ugly workaround for systemd/systemd#19442 where systemd-nspawn
+    # occasionally fails with 'Failed to dissect image xxx: Connection timed out
+    - name: Retry the build if necessary
+      if: ${{ matrix.distro == 'arch' }}
+      run: echo "BUILD_RETRY_MAX=3" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
     - name: Boot ${{ matrix.distro }} systemd-nspawn
-      run: sudo ./.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py python3 -m mkosi --password= --qemu-headless boot
+      run: sudo -E bash +e -x -c 'for _ in $(seq 1 ${BUILD_RETRY_MAX:-1}); do ./.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py python3 -m mkosi --password= --qemu-headless boot && break; done'
 
     - name: Boot ${{ matrix.distro }} QEMU
       run: sudo ./.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py python3 -m mkosi --password= --qemu-headless qemu