diff --git a/.github/workflows/conda_unit_test.yml b/.github/workflows/conda_unit_test.yml
index 4b7785df..5b4a257c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/conda_unit_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/conda_unit_test.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     # needs: lint
     strategy:
+      max-parallel: 5
       matrix:
         python-version:
         - "3.8"
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ jobs:
         databroker-version:
         - "1.2.5"
         - "2.0.0b31"
-        max-parallel: 5
 
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4