diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index 8fa946fb82..c5d88e30d7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -24,10 +24,8 @@ jobs:
   make:
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        test_task: ['check']
-        test_opts: ['']
-        os: ['']
         include:
+          - test_task: check
           - test_task: test-all
             test_opts: --repeat-count=2
           - test_task: test-bundler-parallel
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml b/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
index 95f7e97d18..62b55845b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ubuntu.yml
@@ -24,12 +24,9 @@ jobs:
   make:
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        test_task: [check]
-        arch: ['']
-        configure: ['cppflags=-DVM_CHECK_MODE']
-        os: ['']
-        # specifying other jobs with `include` to avoid redundant tests
         include:
+          - test_task: check
+            configure: 'cppflags=-DVM_CHECK_MODE'
           - test_task: check
             arch: i686
           - test_task: check