diff --git a/.dagger/src/blumeops_ci/main.py b/.dagger/src/blumeops_ci/main.py
index 5eb7cc8..851720d 100644
--- a/.dagger/src/blumeops_ci/main.py
+++ b/.dagger/src/blumeops_ci/main.py
@@ -31,9 +31,13 @@ class BlumeopsCi:
         return await (
             dag.container()
             .from_("python:3.12-slim")
+            # git is required because towncrier stages CHANGELOG.md via git add
+            .with_exec(["apt-get", "update", "-qq"])
+            .with_exec(["apt-get", "install", "-y", "-qq", "git"])
             .with_exec(["pip", "install", "towncrier"])
             .with_directory("/workspace", src)
             .with_workdir("/workspace")
+            .with_exec(["git", "init"])
             .with_exec(["towncrier", "build", "--version", version, "--yes"])
             .directory("/workspace")
         )