diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_tests_dev.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci_tests_dev.yaml
index d106dac1fe6..fe072c01fdb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_tests_dev.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_tests_dev.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-# This workflow installs PyGMT dependencies, builds documentation and runs tests on GMT dev version
-# For more information see: https://help.github.com/actions/language-and-framework-guides/using-python-with-github-actions
+# This workflow installs PyGMT and runs tests on GMT dev version
 
 name: GMT Dev Tests
 
@@ -10,10 +9,13 @@ on:
     types: [ready_for_review]
     paths-ignore:
       - 'doc/**'
+      - 'examples/**'
       - '*.md'
       - '*.json'
       - 'README.rst'
       - 'LICENSE.txt'
+      - '.gitignore'
+      - '.pylintrc'
   repository_dispatch:
     types: [test-gmt-dev-command]
   # Schedule daily tests
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         python-version: [3.9]
-        os: [ubuntu-20.04, macOS-10.15, windows-latest]
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, macOS-11.0, windows-latest]
         gmt_git_ref: [master]
     defaults:
       run:
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Miniconda
         uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2.0.1
         with:
+          activate-environment: pygmt
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
           channels: conda-forge
           miniconda-version: "latest"
@@ -81,8 +84,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           conda install ninja cmake libblas libcblas liblapack fftw gdal \
-                        ghostscript libnetcdf hdf5 zlib curl pcre ipython \
-                        dvc pytest pytest-cov pytest-mpl
+                        ghostscript libnetcdf hdf5 zlib curl pcre make dvc
+          pip install --pre numpy pandas xarray netCDF4 packaging \
+                            ipython pytest-cov pytest-mpl pytest>=6.0 sphinx-gallery
 
       # Build and install latest GMT from GitHub
       - name: Install GMT ${{ matrix.gmt_git_ref }} branch (Linux/macOS)