diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 697a9b6c..6ebe4a63 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: test
         run: |
           make clean
-          # TODO include this by default?
-          TESTFLAGS="$TESTFLAGS -Pnone,linear" make test
+          make test
 
       # collect coverage info
       #
@@ -372,7 +371,7 @@ jobs:
       # on one geometry
       - name: test-valgrind
         run: |
-          TESTFLAGS="$TESTFLAGS -Gdefault --valgrind" make test
+          TESTFLAGS="$TESTFLAGS --valgrind -Gdefault -Pnone" make test
 
   # test that compilation is warning free under clang
   # run with Clang, mostly to check for Clang-specific warnings
diff --git a/runners/test_runner.c b/runners/test_runner.c
index 39237695..0855fc54 100644
--- a/runners/test_runner.c
+++ b/runners/test_runner.c
@@ -1788,10 +1788,13 @@ const char *const builtin_powerlosses_help[] = {
     "Run a custom leb16-encoded set of power-losses.",
 };
 
+// default to -Pnone,linear, which provides a good heuristic while still
+// running quickly
 const test_powerloss_t *test_powerlosses = (const test_powerloss_t[]){
-    {"none", run_powerloss_none, NULL, 0},
+    {"none",   run_powerloss_none,   NULL, 0},
+    {"linear", run_powerloss_linear, NULL, 0},
 };
-size_t test_powerloss_count = 1;
+size_t test_powerloss_count = 2;
 
 static void list_powerlosses(void) {
     // at least size so that names fit