diff --git a/.github/workflows/cibuild.yml b/.github/workflows/cibuild.yml
index 0cb2a3292..10aa31471 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cibuild.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cibuild.yml
@@ -63,6 +63,18 @@ jobs:
 
     # Libraries
 
+    - name: Sparse fetch neoAssets
+      uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      with:
+        repository: NeotokyoRebuild/neoAssets
+        path: neoAssets
+        sparse-checkout:
+          neo/detail.vbsp
+          neo/lights.rad
+          neo/resource/
+          neo/shaders/fxc/
+          neo/rebuild.fgd
+
     - name: CMake configure libraries build
       working-directory: ${{ env.source_dir }}
       run: >
@@ -75,6 +87,7 @@ jobs:
         -DNEO_USE_SEPARATE_BUILD_INFO=ON
         -DNEO_INSTALL_LIBRARIES=ON
         -DNEO_INSTALL_RESOURCES=OFF
+        -DNEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH=${{ github.workspace }}/neoAssets
 
     - name: CMake libraries build
       working-directory: ${{ env.source_dir }}
@@ -205,6 +218,18 @@ jobs:
 
     # Libraries
 
+    - name: Sparse fetch neoAssets
+      uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      with:
+        repository: NeotokyoRebuild/neoAssets
+        path: neoAssets
+        sparse-checkout:
+          neo/detail.vbsp
+          neo/lights.rad
+          neo/resource/
+          neo/shaders/fxc/
+          neo/rebuild.fgd
+
     - name: CMake configure libraries build
       working-directory: ${{ env.source_dir }}
       run: >
@@ -217,6 +242,7 @@ jobs:
         -DNEO_USE_SEPARATE_BUILD_INFO=ON
         -DNEO_INSTALL_LIBRARIES=ON
         -DNEO_INSTALL_RESOURCES=OFF
+        -DNEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH=${{ github.workspace }}/neoAssets
 
     - name: CMake libraries build
       working-directory: ${{ env.source_dir }}
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index dbd91d961..e6c59cf1d 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ option(NEO_BUILD_MATHLIB "Build mathlib library" ON)
 option(NEO_BUILD_VGUI_CONTROLS "Build vgui_controls library" ON)
 option(NEO_COPY_LIBRARIES "Copy libraries to bin directory by default" ON)
 option(NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS "Copy extra assets into game/neo" ON)
+option(NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH "Alternate location to fetch the extra assets" "")
 if (OS_LINUX)
     set(NEO_OUTPUT_LIBRARY_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/../game/neo/bin/linux64" CACHE PATH "Directory for output libraries (linux64)")
 else ()
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ message(STATUS "Build mathlib library: ${NEO_BUILD_MATHLIB}")
 message(STATUS "Build vgui_controls library: ${NEO_BUILD_VGUI_CONTROLS}")
 message(STATUS "Copy libraries to bin directory by default: ${NEO_COPY_LIBRARIES}")
 message(STATUS "Copy extra assets into game/neo: ${NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS}")
+message(STATUS "Alternate location to fetch the extra assets: ${NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH}")
 message(STATUS "Directory for output libraries: ${NEO_OUTPUT_LIBRARY_PATH}")
 message(STATUS "Install game libraries: ${NEO_INSTALL_LIBRARIES}")
 message(STATUS "Install game resources: ${NEO_INSTALL_RESOURCES}")
@@ -593,23 +595,30 @@ if(NEO_INSTALL_RESOURCES)
 endif()
 
 if(NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS)
-    include(FetchContent) # once in the project to include the module
-
-    FetchContent_Declare(
-        neo_assets
-        GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/NeotokyoRebuild/neoAssets.git
-        GIT_TAG master # Replace with a commit hash or other tag to select a specific version of the assets, remove GIT_SHALLOW if using commit hash
-        GIT_SHALLOW 1
-        GIT_PROGRESS TRUE
-        USES_TERMINAL_DOWNLOAD TRUE
-    )
+    if(NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH)
+        execute_process(
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory
+                "${NEO_EXTRA_ASSETS_ALT_PATH}/neo"
+                "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/../game/neo")
+    else()
+        include(FetchContent) # once in the project to include the module
+
+        FetchContent_Declare(
+            neo_assets
+            GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/NeotokyoRebuild/neoAssets.git
+            GIT_TAG master # Replace with a commit hash or other tag to select a specific version of the assets, remove GIT_SHALLOW if using commit hash
+            GIT_SHALLOW 1
+            GIT_PROGRESS TRUE
+            USES_TERMINAL_DOWNLOAD TRUE
+        )
 
-    FetchContent_MakeAvailable(neo_assets)
+        FetchContent_MakeAvailable(neo_assets)
 
-    execute_process(
-        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory
-            "${neo_assets_SOURCE_DIR}/neo"
-            "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/../game/neo")
+        execute_process(
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_directory
+                "${neo_assets_SOURCE_DIR}/neo"
+                "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/../game/neo")
+    endif()
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(tests)