diff --git a/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check-rstan.yaml b/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check-rstan.yaml
index 11ca33a4..edeebcfb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check-rstan.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/R-CMD-check-rstan.yaml
@@ -63,14 +63,9 @@ jobs:
               rjags
               coda
               testthat
-              xml2
               usethis
               rcmdcheck
 
-      - name: Test timings
-        run: testthat::test_local(reporter = 'junit')
-        shell: Rscript {0}
-
       - uses: r-lib/actions/check-r-package@v2
         with:
           build_args: 'c("--no-manual", "--no-build-vignettes")'
diff --git a/tests/mvgam_examples.R b/tests/mvgam_examples.R
index 06f12ca6..2e0e2f3f 100644
--- a/tests/mvgam_examples.R
+++ b/tests/mvgam_examples.R
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Small mvgam examples for testing post-fitting functions such as
 # predict, forecast, hindcast etc...
+skip_on_cran()
 set.seed(1234)
 library(mvgam)
 mvgam_examp_dat <- list(data_train =