diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index a4178c8d..21eaa975 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ env:
   NPM_CONFIG_COLOR: always
 
 jobs:
+  # verify against ranges defined as supported in engines.node
   test_matrix:
     strategy:
       matrix:
@@ -44,11 +45,31 @@ jobs:
       - run: npm audit signatures
       - run: npm test
 
+  # verify against the node version defined for development in the .nvmrc
+  test_dev:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@3df4ab11eba7bda6032a0b82a6bb43b11571feac # v4
+      - run: git config --global user.name github-actions
+      - run: git config --global user.email github-actions@github.com
+      - name: Use Node.js from .nvmrc
+        uses: actions/setup-node@5e21ff4d9bc1a8cf6de233a3057d20ec6b3fb69d # v3
+        with:
+          node-version-file: .nvmrc
+          cache: npm
+      - run: npm clean-install
+      - run: npm audit signatures
+      - run: npm test
+
   # separate job to set as required in branch protection,
   # as the build names above change each time Node versions change
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: test_matrix
+    needs:
+      - test_dev
+      - test_matrix
     if: always()
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@8ade135a41bc03ea155e62e844d188df1ea18608 # v4