diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 85d44c7e7a..f8e9652ba5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -188,30 +188,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build v
         run: make
 
-      - name: v.c can be compiled and run with -os cross (bootstrapping works)
-        run: |
-          ls -la v vc/v.c
-          ./v -os cross -o vc/v.c cmd/v
-          gcc  -g -std=gnu11 -I ./thirdparty/stdatomic/nix -w -o v_from_vc vc/v.c  -lm -lpthread
-          ls -lart v_from_vc
-          ./v_from_vc version
-          ./v_from_vc run examples/hello_world.v
-          ./v_from_vc -o v_from_vc_produced_native_v cmd/v
-          ./v_from_vc_produced_native_v run examples/hello_world.v
-          make local=1
-          ls -la v vc/v.c v_from_vc v_from_vc_produced_native_v
-
-      - name: Ensure v up works
-        run: |
-          ./v cmd/tools/oldv.v
-          ./cmd/tools/oldv -v HEAD^^^^^
-          cd ~/.cache/oldv/v_at_HEAD_____/
-          ./v version
-          ./v -v up
-          ./v version
-          ./v  -o v2 cmd/v
-          ./v2 -o v3 cmd/v
-
       - name: Ensure V can be compiled with -autofree
         run: ./v -autofree -o v2 cmd/v  ## NB: this does not mean it runs, but at least keeps it from regressing
 
@@ -328,20 +304,6 @@ jobs:
           ./v cmd/tools/test_if_v_test_system_works.v
           ./cmd/tools/test_if_v_test_system_works
 
-      - name: v.c can be compiled and run with -os cross (bootstrapping works)
-        run: |
-          ls -la v vc/v.c
-          ./v -os cross -o vc/v.c cmd/v
-          cc -g -std=gnu11 -I ./thirdparty/stdatomic/nix -w -o v_from_vc vc/v.c -lm -lpthread
-          ls -lart v_from_vc
-          ./v_from_vc version
-          ./v_from_vc run examples/hello_world.v
-          ./v_from_vc -o v_from_vc_produced_native_v cmd/v
-          ./v_from_vc_produced_native_v run examples/hello_world.v
-          ### the next make invocation will simulate building V from scratch
-          make local=1
-          ls -la v vc/v.c v_from_vc v_from_vc_produced_native_v
-
       - name: Self tests
         run: VJOBS=1 ./v -silent test-self
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_bootstrapping_works.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_bootstrapping_works.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5fedc65453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_bootstrapping_works.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+name: Bootstraping works
+
+on:
+  push:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - "**.md"
+  pull_request:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - "**.md"
+
+jobs:
+  ubuntu:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    env:
+      VFLAGS: -cc tcc -no-retry-compilation
+      B_CFLAGS: -g -std=gnu11 -I ./thirdparty/stdatomic/nix -w
+      B_LFLAGS: -lm -lpthread
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 5
+      - name: Build v
+        run: make
+
+      - name: v.c can be compiled and run with -os cross (bootstrapping works)
+        run: |
+          ls -la v vc/v.c
+          ./v -os cross -o vc/v.c cmd/v
+          gcc $B_CFLAGS -o v_from_vc vc/v.c $B_LFLAGS
+          ls -lart v_from_vc
+          ./v_from_vc version
+          ./v_from_vc run examples/hello_world.v
+          ./v_from_vc -o v_from_vc_produced_native_v cmd/v
+          ./v_from_vc_produced_native_v run examples/hello_world.v
+          make local=1
+          ls -la v vc/v.c v_from_vc v_from_vc_produced_native_v
+
+      - name: Ensure v up works
+        run: |
+          ./v cmd/tools/oldv.v
+          ./cmd/tools/oldv -v HEAD^^^^^
+          cd ~/.cache/oldv/v_at_HEAD_____/
+          ./v version
+          ./v -v up
+          ./v version
+          ./v  -o v2 cmd/v
+          ./v2 -o v3 cmd/v
+
+  macos:
+    runs-on: macos-11
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    env:
+      VFLAGS: -cc clang
+      B_CFLAGS: -g -std=gnu11 -I ./thirdparty/stdatomic/nix -w
+      B_LFLAGS: -lm -lpthread
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 5
+      - name: Build V
+        run: make && ./v -cg -cstrict -o v cmd/v
+
+      - name: v.c can be compiled and run with -os cross (bootstrapping works)
+        run: |
+          ls -la v vc/v.c
+          ./v -os cross -o vc/v.c cmd/v
+          cc $B_CFLAGS -o v_from_vc vc/v.c $B_LFLAGS
+          ls -lart v_from_vc
+          ./v_from_vc version
+          ./v_from_vc run examples/hello_world.v
+          ./v_from_vc -o v_from_vc_produced_native_v cmd/v
+          ./v_from_vc_produced_native_v run examples/hello_world.v
+          ### the next make invocation will simulate building V from scratch,
+          ### using this commit
+          make local=1
+          ls -la v vc/v.c v_from_vc v_from_vc_produced_native_v