diff --git a/.ci/install.sh b/.ci/install.sh
index 3543d3da6..60f012026 100755
--- a/.ci/install.sh
+++ b/.ci/install.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ python3 -m pip install -U pytest
 python3 -m pip install -U pytest-cov
 python3 -m pip install -U pytest-timeout
 python3 -m pip install pyroma
-python3 -m pip install pyarrow
+# optional test dependency, only install if there's a binary package.
+# fails on beta 3.14 and pypy3.10
+python3 -m pip install --only-binary=:all: pyarrow || true
 
 if [[ $(uname) != CYGWIN* ]]; then
     python3 -m pip install numpy