diff --git a/CI/before_install.osx.sh b/CI/before_install.osx.sh
index 40210428d0..e340d501ed 100755
--- a/CI/before_install.osx.sh
+++ b/CI/before_install.osx.sh
@@ -1,22 +1,18 @@
 #!/bin/sh -ex
 
 export HOMEBREW_NO_EMOJI=1
+export HOMEBREW_NO_INSTALL_CLEANUP=1
+export HOMEBREW_AUTOREMOVE=1
 
-brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies python@3.8 || true
-brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies python@3.9 || true
-brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies qt@6 || true
-brew uninstall --ignore-dependencies jpeg || true
+# workaround for gitlab's pre-installed brew
+# purge large and unnecessary packages that get in our way and have caused issues
+brew uninstall ruby php openjdk node postgresql maven curl || true
 
 brew tap --repair
 brew update --quiet
 
 # Some of these tools can come from places other than brew, so check before installing
-brew reinstall xquartz fontconfig freetype harfbuzz brotli
-
-# Fix: can't open file: @loader_path/libbrotlicommon.1.dylib (No such file or directory)
-BREW_LIB_PATH="$(brew --prefix)/lib"
-install_name_tool -change "@loader_path/libbrotlicommon.1.dylib" "${BREW_LIB_PATH}/libbrotlicommon.1.dylib" ${BREW_LIB_PATH}/libbrotlidec.1.dylib
-install_name_tool -change "@loader_path/libbrotlicommon.1.dylib" "${BREW_LIB_PATH}/libbrotlicommon.1.dylib" ${BREW_LIB_PATH}/libbrotlienc.1.dylib
+brew install curl xquartz gd fontconfig freetype harfbuzz brotli
 
 command -v ccache >/dev/null 2>&1 || brew install ccache
 command -v cmake >/dev/null 2>&1 || brew install cmake