diff --git a/.ci/build/configure.sh b/.ci/build/configure.sh
index 52e7be31..39e23fe8 100755
--- a/.ci/build/configure.sh
+++ b/.ci/build/configure.sh
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ COMMON_FLAGS=(
 	-DNIGHTLY_BUILD="${NIGHTLY:-OFF}"
 )
 
+# force static opus
+if [ "$OPUS" = "true" ]; then
+	COMMON_FLAGS+=(-DOpus_FORCE_BUNDLED=ON)
+fi
+
 # cmd line stuff
 EXTRA_ARGS=("$@")
 
diff --git a/.ci/build/platform.sh b/.ci/build/platform.sh
index 25b219cb..91211007 100755
--- a/.ci/build/platform.sh
+++ b/.ci/build/platform.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 QT=OFF
 STATIC=OFF
 
+# set to ON to force a static opus
+OPUS=OFF
+
 uname -s
 
 # special case for Windows (FU microsoft)
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ else
 		OPENSSL=ON
 		SIRIT=ON
 		SUPPORTS_TARGETS=ON
+		OPUS=ON
 		;;
 	Darwin*)
 		PLATFORM=macos
@@ -81,5 +85,6 @@ export SUPPORTS_TARGETS
 export SIRIT
 export STATIC
 export QT
+export OPUS
 
 # TODO(crueter): document outputs n such
diff --git a/.ci/deps/arch.sh b/.ci/deps/arch.sh
index 0c8214f0..9ecf4510 100755
--- a/.ci/deps/arch.sh
+++ b/.ci/deps/arch.sh
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ echo "Installing debloated packages..."
 echo "---------------------------------------------------------------"
 wget --retry-connrefused --tries=30 "$EXTRA_PACKAGES"
 chmod +x get-debloated-pkgs.sh
-./get-debloated-pkgs.sh --add-mesa qt6-base-mini libxml2-mini opus-nano intel-media-driver
+./get-debloated-pkgs.sh --add-mesa qt6-base-mini libxml2-mini intel-media-driver
 
 echo "All done!"
 echo "---------------------------------------------------------------"