diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index 353af5d486..577789e216 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
         continue-on-error: true
         id: cache
         with:
-          key: docs-${{ hashFiles('docs', 'proto', '!docs/build', '!docs/node_modules') }}
+          key: docs-${{ hashFiles('docs', 'proto', '!docs/build', '!docs/node_modules', '!docs/protoc-gen-connect-openapi') }}
           restore-keys: |
             docs-
           path: ${{ env.cache_path }}
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ jobs:
       - if: ${{ steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' }}
         name: Install dependencies
         run: pnpm install
+      - if: ${{ steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' }}
+        name: Ensure protoc plugins are available
+        run: cd docs && if [ ! -f "protoc-gen-connect-openapi/protoc-gen-connect-openapi" ]; then sh ./plugin-download.sh; fi
       - if: ${{ steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' }}
         name: Build docs with Turbo
         run: pnpm turbo build --filter=./docs