diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-code-formatting.yml b/.github/workflows/check-code-formatting.yml
index 0f202ff..c74b650 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-code-formatting.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-code-formatting.yml
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ jobs:
   check_format:
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
-      - name: Install the packages needed for checking code formatting
+      - name: Setup clang-format 15 (we'd like 16, but as of 2023-09-29 it's not there)
         run: |
-          sudo apt install --no-install-recommends -y \
-            nano
+          # once clang-16 becomes available, please enable the rules that are
+          # currently commented in <BASE>/.clang_format
+          sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/clang-format clang-format /usr/bin/clang-format-15 10
+          sudo update-alternatives --set clang-format /usr/bin/clang-format-15
       - name: Checkout itcoin-fbft
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with: