diff --git a/.github/scripts/compile_and_test.sh b/.github/scripts/compile_and_test.sh
index a9ccff9f3b3456a1167414bba25a3818b3fc0e02..2bcf462916618e01cbe4a8f291dd39229cb69296 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/compile_and_test.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/compile_and_test.sh
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ cmake -GNinja \
       -DBUILD_TESTING=ON \
       -DDD4HEP_DEBUG_CMAKE=ON \
       -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${SHARED} \
+      -DDD4HEP_USE_XERCESC=ON \
       -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
       -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="-fdiagnostics-color=always"  \
       -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${STANDARD} .. && \
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ mkdir build && \
 cd build && \
 cmake -GNinja \
       -DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON \
+      -DDD4HEP_USE_XERCESC=ON \
       -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${STANDARD} .. && \
 ninja && \
 ninja install && \
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mac.yml b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
index 97e09b15b873962b7c530d0cc27ac76bd653b91e..77e70da23ee0dbcc5424356066f19ead47e3753b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mac.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
         source /Users/Shared/cvmfs/sft.cern.ch/lcg/views/${{ matrix.LCG }}/setup.sh
         mkdir build
         cd build
-        cmake -GNinja -DDD4HEP_USE_GEANT4=ON -DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON -DDD4HEP_USE_LCIO=ON -DBUILD_TESTING=ON -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 ..
+        cmake -GNinja -DDD4HEP_USE_GEANT4=ON -DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON -DDD4HEP_USE_LCIO=ON -DBUILD_TESTING=ON -DDD4HEP_USE_XERCESC=ON -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 ..
         ninja
         ninja install
         . ../bin/thisdd4hep.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
         cd ../examples/
         mkdir build
         cd build
-        cmake -GNinja -DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 ..
+        cmake -GNinja -DBoost_NO_BOOST_CMAKE=ON -DDD4HEP_USE_XERCESC=ON -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17 ..
         ninja
         ninja install
         ctest --output-on-failure -E t_ClientTests_Check_Shape_Eightpoint_Reflect_DetElement