diff --git a/.github/workflows/python_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python_tests.yml
index 8019f1172..db2965ba9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python_tests.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install Python Requirements
       run: pip3 install --user -r python/test/requirements-dev.txt
     - name: Python Build
-      run: pip3 install --user .
+      env:
+        KOMPUTE_PYTHON_NUM_PARALLEL_THREADS: 2
+      run: pip3 install --user . -v
     - name: Python run Tests
       run: |
         export VK_ICD_FILENAMES=/swiftshader/vk_swiftshader_icd.json
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b94748007..09faa8d1a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ class CMakeBuild(build_ext):
             env['CXXFLAGS'] += ' -fPIC'
             cmake_args += ['-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=' + cfg]
             build_args += ['--', '-j']
+            # Optional environment variable to limit the number of parallel jobs for GitHub actions to reduce RAM usage
+            if 'KOMPUTE_PYTHON_NUM_PARALLEL_THREADS' in env:
+                build_args += env['KOMPUTE_PYTHON_NUM_PARALLEL_THREADS']
 
         if not os.path.exists(self.build_temp):
             os.makedirs(self.build_temp)