diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_esp.yml b/.github/workflows/build_esp.yml
index 33caa0edb9..65ade7b033 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_esp.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_esp.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ on:
       - 'examples/**'
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - '.github/workflows/build_esp.yml'
   pull_request:
     branches: [ master ]
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ on:
       - 'examples/**'
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - '.github/workflows/build_esp.yml'
 
 concurrency:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_iar.yml b/.github/workflows/build_iar.yml
index 9f2cc03511..a0a022ecc9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_iar.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_iar.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ on:
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
       - 'tools/get_deps.py'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - '.github/workflows/build_iar.yml'
   pull_request:
     branches: [ master ]
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ on:
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
       - 'tools/get_deps.py'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - '.github/workflows/build_iar.yml'
 
 concurrency:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml b/.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml
index 8b87fef219..4ef2de4a62 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ on:
       - 'examples/**'
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - 'tools/get_deps.py'
       - '.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml'
   pull_request:
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ on:
       - 'examples/**'
       - 'lib/**'
       - 'hw/**'
+      - 'test/hil/**'
       - 'tools/get_deps.py'
       - '.github/workflows/cmake_arm.yml'
 
diff --git a/test/hil/hil_test.py b/test/hil/hil_test.py
index 7c662aeea7..7f03ce43f1 100644
--- a/test/hil/hil_test.py
+++ b/test/hil/hil_test.py
@@ -364,8 +364,15 @@ def main(config_file, board):
 
             print(f'  {test} ...', end='')
 
-            # flash firmware
-            ret = globals()[f'flash_{flasher}'](item, fw)
+            # flash firmware. It may fail randomly, retry a few times
+            for i in range(3):
+                ret = globals()[f'flash_{flasher}'](item, fw)
+                if ret.returncode == 0:
+                    break
+                else:
+                    print(f'Flashing failed, retry {i+1}')
+                    time.sleep(1)
+
             assert ret.returncode == 0, 'Flash failed\n' + ret.stdout.decode()
 
             # run test