diff --git a/.github/workflows/node-pretest.yml b/.github/workflows/node-pretest.yml
index 765edf79..72bdfa3a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node-pretest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node-pretest.yml
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ on: [pull_request, push]
 jobs:
   tests:
     uses: ljharb/actions/.github/workflows/pretest.yml@main
+    with:
+      skip-engines: true # bin/tape requires node 8+, but the rest of tape supports 0.4+