diff --git a/bin/install-wp-tests.sh b/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
index a9644ae..2bbb480 100755
--- a/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
+++ b/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ create_db() {
 }
 
 install_db() {
+	# the mariadb commands are not available on some self-hosted runner images
+	apt update && apt-get install mariadb-client -y
 
 	if [ ${SKIP_DB_CREATE} = "true" ]; then
 		return 0