diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 0c5f0be4..c0c10de6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
       # build lib with cross
-      - run: $BUILD_CMD build ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --release --locked --workspace --lib
+      - run: $BUILD_CMD +${{ matrix.toolchain }} build ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --release --locked --workspace --lib
 
   # build/test all supported targets for library and bins (skipping slow and squashfs-tools tests)
   cross-test:
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ jobs:
           - { target: arm-unknown-linux-musleabi,   os: ubuntu-24.04, use-cross: true }
           - { target: armv7-unknown-linux-musleabi, os: ubuntu-24.04, use-cross: true }
           - { target: aarch64-unknown-linux-musl,   os: ubuntu-24.04, use-cross: true }
-          - { target: x86_64-apple-darwin,          os: macos-14                       }
+          - { target: x86_64-apple-darwin,          os: macos-14,                     }
         toolchain:
           - stable
             # msrv of backhand-cli
@@ -92,11 +92,12 @@ jobs:
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
           # TODO: really only needed for the matrix variables without use-cross
-          target: ${{ matrix.job.target }}
-      # build lib and bins with cross
-      - run: $BUILD_CMD build ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --release --locked --workspace --features xz-static
+          targets: ${{ matrix.job.target }}
+
+      # build lib and bins with cross or cargo
+      - run: $BUILD_CMD +${{ matrix.toolchain }} build ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --release --locked --workspace --features xz-static
       # test with cross, skipping slow test and tests that use more then qemu default memory without use-cross without use-cross
-      - run: CROSS_CONTAINER_OPTS="--network host" RUST_LOG=info $BUILD_CMD test --workspace --release ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --features xz-static --locked -- --skip slow --skip no_qemu
+      - run: CROSS_CONTAINER_OPTS="--network host" RUST_LOG=info $BUILD_CMD +${{ matrix.toolchain }} test --workspace --release ${{ matrix.features }} --target ${{ matrix.job.target }} --features xz-static --locked -- --skip slow --skip no_qemu
   # build/test all supported on native x86_64 arch for library and bins (all tests)
   build-test-native:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
@@ -124,9 +125,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
       # build bins
-      - run: cargo build ${{ matrix.features }} --release --locked --workspace
+      - run: cargo +${{ matrix.toolchain }} build ${{ matrix.features }} --release --locked --workspace
       # run tests with native unsquashfs on x86_64-unknown-linux-musl (using Cross.toml)
-      - run: RUST_LOG=info cargo test --workspace --release ${{ matrix.features }}  --locked --features __test_unsquashfs -- --skip slow
+      - run: RUST_LOG=info cargo +${{ matrix.toolchain }} test --workspace --release ${{ matrix.features }}  --locked --features __test_unsquashfs -- --skip slow
 
   # fmt and clippy on stable
   fmt-clippy-stable:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/msrv.yml b/.github/workflows/msrv.yml
index 1e8b8692..cb18bdc5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/msrv.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/msrv.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@master
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
-      - run: cargo check --locked -p backhand
+      - run: cargo +${{ matrix.toolchain }} check --locked -p backhand
 
   build-test-backhand-cli:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
@@ -45,4 +45,4 @@ jobs:
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@master
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ matrix.toolchain }}
-      - run: cargo check --locked -p backhand-cli
+      - run: cargo +${{ matrix.toolchain }} check --locked -p backhand-cli