diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
index 7bde1bf0..57a17049 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   ndsl_unit_tests:
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        extras: ["test", "test,zarr"]
+      fail-fast: false # don't cancel on job if the other one is failing
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container:
       image: ghcr.io/noaa-gfdl/miniforge:mpich
@@ -20,7 +24,7 @@ jobs:
             submodules: 'recursive'
 
         - name: Install Python packages
-          run: pip3 install .[test]
+          run: pip3 install .[${{ matrix.extras }}]
 
         - name: prepare input eta files
           run: python tests/grid/generate_eta_files.py
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 453c4e07..0f22346b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -18,10 +18,12 @@ def local_pkg(name: str, relative_path: str) -> str:
 develop_requirements = test_requirements + docs_requirements + ["pre-commit"]
 
 extras_requires = {
+    "cupy": ["cupy"],
     "demos": demos_requirements,
     "develop": develop_requirements,
     "docs": docs_requirements,
     "test": test_requirements,
+    "zarr": ["zarr"],
 }
 
 requirements: List[str] = [