diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 2195ac2665..c4c91e0c2f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ jobs:
                   psql -c 'create database phpbb_tests;' -U postgres
                   Set-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "${env:PGDATA}" # Exclude PGDATA directory from Windows Defender
                   Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true
+                  New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" -Name DisableAntiSpyware -Value 1 -PropertyType DWORD -Force
             - name: Run unit tests
               run: |
                   phpBB/vendor/bin/phpunit --configuration .github/phpunit-psql-windows-github.xml --verbose --stop-on-error