diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/preprocess-workflows.gradle b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/preprocess-workflows.gradle
index 4a4d38cf91..b28495a6b2 100644
--- a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/preprocess-workflows.gradle
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/preprocess-workflows.gradle
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-  implementation(libs.workflows.kotlin.compilerEmbeddable)
+  compileOnly(libs.workflows.kotlin.compilerEmbeddable)
 }
 
 gradlePlugin {
diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFiles.groovy b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFiles.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4282a38bae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFiles.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package org.spockframework.gradle
+
+import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
+import org.gradle.api.DefaultTask
+import org.gradle.api.file.ConfigurableFileCollection
+import org.gradle.api.file.ProjectLayout
+import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.*
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkerExecutor
+
+import javax.inject.Inject
+
+@CompileStatic
+@UntrackedTask(because = 'imported files can import other files so inputs are not determinable upfront')
+abstract class DetermineImportedFiles extends DefaultTask {
+  @InputFile
+  abstract RegularFileProperty getMainKtsFile()
+
+  @InputFiles
+  abstract ConfigurableFileCollection getKotlinCompilerEmbeddableClasspath()
+
+  @OutputFile
+  abstract RegularFileProperty getImportedFiles()
+
+  @Inject
+  abstract WorkerExecutor getWorkerExecutor()
+
+  @Inject
+  abstract ProjectLayout getLayout()
+
+  @TaskAction
+  def determineImportedFiles() {
+    workerExecutor.classLoaderIsolation {
+      it.classpath.from(kotlinCompilerEmbeddableClasspath)
+    }.submit(DetermineImportedFilesWorkAction) {
+      it.projectDirectory.set(layout.projectDirectory)
+      it.mainKtsFile.set(mainKtsFile)
+      it.importedFiles.set(importedFiles)
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFilesWorkAction.groovy b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFilesWorkAction.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ffdeb16ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/DetermineImportedFilesWorkAction.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package org.spockframework.gradle
+
+import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
+import org.gradle.api.file.DirectoryProperty
+import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkAction
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkParameters
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.common.messages.MessageCollector
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.compiler.KotlinCoreEnvironment
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.util.Disposer
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.vfs.local.CoreLocalFileSystem
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.vfs.local.CoreLocalVirtualFile
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.psi.PsiManager
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.CompilerConfiguration
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtFile
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtStringTemplateExpression
+
+import static org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.compiler.EnvironmentConfigFiles.JVM_CONFIG_FILES
+import static org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.CommonConfigurationKeys.MESSAGE_COLLECTOR_KEY
+
+@CompileStatic
+abstract class DetermineImportedFilesWorkAction implements WorkAction<Parameters> {
+  @Override
+  void execute() {
+    def projectDirectory = parameters.projectDirectory.get().asFile
+    parameters
+      .mainKtsFile
+      .get()
+      .asFile
+      .with { getImportedFiles(it) }
+      .collect { projectDirectory.relativePath(it).toString().replace('\\', '/') }
+      .unique()
+      .sort()
+      .join('\n')
+      .tap { parameters.importedFiles.get().asFile.text = it }
+  }
+
+  private List<File> getImportedFiles(File workflowScript) {
+    if (!workflowScript.file) {
+      return []
+    }
+
+    return PsiManager
+      .getInstance(
+        KotlinCoreEnvironment
+          .createForProduction(
+            Disposer.newDisposable(),
+            new CompilerConfiguration().tap {
+              it.put(MESSAGE_COLLECTOR_KEY, MessageCollector.@Companion.NONE)
+            },
+            JVM_CONFIG_FILES
+          )
+          .project
+      )
+      .findFile(
+        new CoreLocalVirtualFile(
+          new CoreLocalFileSystem(),
+          workflowScript.toPath()
+        )
+      )
+      .with { it as KtFile }
+      .fileAnnotationList
+      ?.annotationEntries
+      ?.findAll { it.shortName?.asString() == 'Import' }
+      *.valueArgumentList
+      ?.collectMany { it?.arguments ?: [] }
+      *.argumentExpression
+      ?.findAll { it instanceof KtStringTemplateExpression }
+      ?.collect { it as KtStringTemplateExpression }
+      *.entries
+      *.first()
+      ?.findAll { it instanceof KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry }
+      ?.collect { it as KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry }
+      ?.collect { new File(workflowScript.parentFile, it.text) }
+      ?.collectMany { getImportedFiles(it) + it }
+      ?: []
+  }
+
+  static interface Parameters extends WorkParameters {
+    DirectoryProperty getProjectDirectory()
+
+    RegularFileProperty getMainKtsFile()
+
+    RegularFileProperty getImportedFiles()
+  }
+}
diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflow.groovy b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflow.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2bb902d0b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflow.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package org.spockframework.gradle
+
+import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
+import org.gradle.api.DefaultTask
+import org.gradle.api.file.ConfigurableFileCollection
+import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
+import org.gradle.api.provider.Property
+import org.gradle.api.provider.Provider
+import org.gradle.api.tasks.*
+import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.JavaLauncher
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkerExecutor
+
+import javax.inject.Inject
+
+@CompileStatic
+abstract class PreprocessGithubWorkflow extends DefaultTask {
+  @InputFile
+  abstract RegularFileProperty getWorkflowScript()
+
+  @InputFiles
+  abstract ConfigurableFileCollection getImportedFiles()
+
+  @InputFiles
+  abstract ConfigurableFileCollection getKotlinCompilerClasspath()
+
+  @InputFiles
+  abstract ConfigurableFileCollection getMainKtsClasspath()
+
+  @Nested
+  abstract Property<JavaLauncher> getJavaLauncher()
+
+  @OutputFile
+  Provider<File> getWorkflowFile() {
+    workflowScript.map {
+      def workflowScript = it.asFile
+      workflowScript.toPath().resolveSibling("${workflowScript.name - ~/\.main\.kts$/}.yaml").toFile()
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Inject
+  abstract WorkerExecutor getWorkerExecutor()
+
+  PreprocessGithubWorkflow() {
+    group = 'github workflows'
+  }
+
+  @TaskAction
+  def determineImportedFiles() {
+    workerExecutor.noIsolation().submit(PreprocessGithubWorkflowWorkAction) {
+      it.workflowScript.set(workflowScript)
+      it.kotlinCompilerClasspath.from(kotlinCompilerClasspath)
+      it.mainKtsClasspath.from(mainKtsClasspath)
+      it.javaExecutable.set(javaLauncher.map { it.executablePath })
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflowWorkAction.groovy b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflowWorkAction.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..235b7ba39a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessGithubWorkflowWorkAction.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package org.spockframework.gradle
+
+import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
+import org.gradle.api.file.ConfigurableFileCollection
+import org.gradle.api.file.RegularFileProperty
+import org.gradle.process.ExecOperations
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkAction
+import org.gradle.workers.WorkParameters
+
+import javax.inject.Inject
+
+@CompileStatic
+abstract class PreprocessGithubWorkflowWorkAction implements WorkAction<Parameters> {
+  @Inject
+  abstract ExecOperations getExecOperations()
+
+  @Override
+  void execute() {
+    // work-around for https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/KT-74830
+    Exception lastException = null
+    for (i in 1..5) {
+      try {
+        execOperations.javaexec {
+          it.executable = parameters.javaExecutable.get().asFile.absolutePath
+          it.classpath(parameters.kotlinCompilerClasspath)
+          it.mainClass.set('org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.K2JVMCompiler')
+          it.args('-no-stdlib', '-no-reflect')
+          it.args('-classpath', parameters.mainKtsClasspath.asPath)
+          it.args('-script', parameters.workflowScript.get().asFile.absolutePath)
+
+          // work-around for https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/KT-42101
+          it.systemProperty('kotlin.main.kts.compiled.scripts.cache.dir', '')
+        }
+        return
+      } catch (Exception e) {
+        lastException = e
+      }
+    }
+    throw lastException
+  }
+
+  static interface Parameters extends WorkParameters {
+    RegularFileProperty getWorkflowScript()
+
+    ConfigurableFileCollection getKotlinCompilerClasspath()
+
+    ConfigurableFileCollection getMainKtsClasspath()
+
+    RegularFileProperty getJavaExecutable()
+  }
+}
diff --git a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin.groovy b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin.groovy
index c0d532d477..2444d04ef4 100644
--- a/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin.groovy
+++ b/build-logic/preprocess-workflows/src/main/groovy/org/spockframework/gradle/PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin.groovy
@@ -20,69 +20,47 @@ import groovy.transform.CompileStatic
 import org.gradle.api.Plugin
 import org.gradle.api.Project
 import org.gradle.api.artifacts.VersionCatalogsExtension
-import org.gradle.api.tasks.JavaExec
 import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.JavaLanguageVersion
 import org.gradle.jvm.toolchain.JavaToolchainService
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.common.messages.MessageCollector
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.compiler.KotlinCoreEnvironment
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.util.Disposer
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.vfs.local.CoreLocalFileSystem
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.openapi.vfs.local.CoreLocalVirtualFile
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.com.intellij.psi.PsiManager
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.config.CompilerConfiguration
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtFile
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtStringTemplateExpression
-
-import static org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.common.CLIConfigurationKeys.MESSAGE_COLLECTOR_KEY
-import static org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.compiler.EnvironmentConfigFiles.JVM_CONFIG_FILES
 
 @CompileStatic
 class PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
   void apply(Project project) {
     def libs = project.extensions.getByType(VersionCatalogsExtension).find('libs').orElseThrow(AssertionError::new)
+    def kotlinCompilerEmbeddableClasspath = project.configurations.detachedConfiguration(
+      libs.findLibrary('workflows-kotlin-compilerEmbeddable').orElseThrow(AssertionError::new).get(),
+    )
     def kotlinCompilerClasspath = project.configurations.detachedConfiguration(
       libs.findLibrary('workflows-kotlin-compiler').orElseThrow(AssertionError::new).get(),
       libs.findLibrary('workflows-kotlin-scriptingCompiler').orElseThrow(AssertionError::new).get()
     )
-    def kotlinScriptClasspath = project.configurations.detachedConfiguration(
+    def mainKtsClasspath = project.configurations.detachedConfiguration(
       libs.findLibrary('workflows-kotlin-mainKts').orElseThrow(AssertionError::new).get()
     ).tap {
       it.transitive = false
     }
 
     def preprocessWorkflows = project.tasks.register('preprocessWorkflows') {
-      it.group = 'github actions'
+      it.group = 'github workflows'
     }
     project.file('.github/workflows').eachFileMatch(~/.*\.main\.kts$/) { workflowScript ->
       def workflowName = workflowScript.name - ~/\.main\.kts$/
       def pascalCasedWorkflowName = workflowName
         .replaceAll(/-\w/) { String it -> it[1].toUpperCase() }
         .replaceFirst(/^\w/) { String it -> it[0].toUpperCase() }
-      def preprocessWorkflow = project.tasks.register("preprocess${pascalCasedWorkflowName}Workflow", JavaExec) {
-        it.group = 'github actions'
-
-        it.inputs
-          .file(workflowScript)
-          .withPropertyName('workflowScript')
-        it.inputs
-          .files(getImportedFiles(project.file(workflowScript)))
-          .withPropertyName("importedFiles")
-        it.outputs
-          .file(new File(workflowScript.parent, "${workflowName}.yaml"))
-          .withPropertyName('workflowFile')
-
-        it.javaLauncher.set project.extensions.getByType(JavaToolchainService).launcherFor {
+      def determineImportedFiles = project.tasks.register("determineImportedFilesFor${pascalCasedWorkflowName}Workflow", DetermineImportedFiles) {
+        it.mainKtsFile.set(workflowScript)
+        it.importedFiles.set(project.layout.buildDirectory.file("importedFilesFor${pascalCasedWorkflowName}Workflow.txt"))
+        it.kotlinCompilerEmbeddableClasspath.from(kotlinCompilerEmbeddableClasspath)
+      }
+      def preprocessWorkflow = project.tasks.register("preprocess${pascalCasedWorkflowName}Workflow", PreprocessGithubWorkflow) {
+        it.workflowScript.set(workflowScript)
+        it.importedFiles.from(determineImportedFiles.flatMap { it.importedFiles }.map { it.asFile.readLines() })
+        it.kotlinCompilerClasspath.from(kotlinCompilerClasspath)
+        it.mainKtsClasspath.from(mainKtsClasspath)
+        it.javaLauncher.set(project.extensions.getByType(JavaToolchainService).launcherFor {
           it.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(17))
-        }
-        it.classpath(kotlinCompilerClasspath)
-        it.mainClass.set 'org.jetbrains.kotlin.cli.jvm.K2JVMCompiler'
-        it.args('-no-stdlib', '-no-reflect')
-        it.args('-classpath', kotlinScriptClasspath.asPath)
-        it.args('-script', workflowScript.absolutePath)
-
-        // work-around for https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/KT-42101
-        it.systemProperty('kotlin.main.kts.compiled.scripts.cache.dir', '')
+        })
       }
       project.pluginManager.withPlugin('io.spring.nohttp') {
         // iff both tasks are run, workflow files should be generated before checkstyle check
@@ -95,45 +73,4 @@ class PreprocessWorkflowsPlugin implements Plugin<Project> {
       }
     }
   }
-
-  private List<File> getImportedFiles(File workflowScript) {
-    if (!workflowScript.file) {
-      return []
-    }
-
-    return PsiManager
-      .getInstance(
-        KotlinCoreEnvironment
-          .createForProduction(
-            Disposer.newDisposable(),
-            new CompilerConfiguration().tap {
-              it.put(MESSAGE_COLLECTOR_KEY, MessageCollector.@Companion.NONE)
-            },
-            JVM_CONFIG_FILES
-          )
-          .project
-      )
-      .findFile(
-        new CoreLocalVirtualFile(
-          new CoreLocalFileSystem(),
-          workflowScript.toPath()
-        )
-      )
-      .with { it as KtFile }
-      .fileAnnotationList
-      ?.annotationEntries
-      ?.findAll { it.shortName?.asString() == "Import" }
-      *.valueArgumentList
-      ?.collectMany { it?.arguments ?: [] }
-      *.argumentExpression
-      ?.findAll { it instanceof KtStringTemplateExpression }
-      ?.collect { it as KtStringTemplateExpression }
-      *.entries
-      *.first()
-      ?.findAll { it instanceof KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry }
-      ?.collect { it as KtLiteralStringTemplateEntry }
-      ?.collect { new File(workflowScript.parentFile, it.text) }
-      ?.collectMany { getImportedFiles(it) + it }
-      ?: []
-  }
 }