diff --git a/build_tools/github_actions/detect_external_repo_config.py b/build_tools/github_actions/detect_external_repo_config.py
index aac598a8cd8..74ed08edfe3 100644
--- a/build_tools/github_actions/detect_external_repo_config.py
+++ b/build_tools/github_actions/detect_external_repo_config.py
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@
         "cmake_source_var": "THEROCK_ROCM_SYSTEMS_SOURCE_DIR",
         "submodule_path": "rocm-systems",
         "skip_submodules": ["rocm-systems"],
-        "dvc_projects": ["external-rocm-systems"],
+        # --dvc-projects replaces fetch_sources.py's default project list rather
+        # than extending it, so "rocm-libraries" is listed explicitly to pull the
+        # rocSPARSE/hipSPARSE test matrices ClientMatrices.cmake needs.
+        "dvc_projects": ["external-rocm-systems", "rocm-libraries"],
     },
     "rocgdb": {
         "cmake_source_var": "THEROCK_ROCGDB_SOURCE_DIR",
diff --git a/build_tools/github_actions/tests/dvc_external_repo_test.py b/build_tools/github_actions/tests/dvc_external_repo_test.py
index 9a9f3ae8d6e..3373d24a49f 100644
--- a/build_tools/github_actions/tests/dvc_external_repo_test.py
+++ b/build_tools/github_actions/tests/dvc_external_repo_test.py
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@ def test_rocm_systems_has_dvc_projects(self):
             "rocm-systems config must have dvc_projects for wsl-rocdxg builds",
         )
 
-        # Verify it contains external-rocm-systems
+        # "rocm-libraries" is required for the rocSPARSE/hipSPARSE test matrices:
+        # --dvc-projects replaces fetch_sources.py's default list rather than
+        # extending it, so dropping it breaks the math-libs stage.
         self.assertEqual(
             config["dvc_projects"],
-            ["external-rocm-systems"],
-            "dvc_projects should contain external-rocm-systems path",
+            ["external-rocm-systems", "rocm-libraries"],
+            "dvc_projects should contain external-rocm-systems and rocm-libraries",
         )
 
     def test_rocm_systems_has_all_required_keys(self):