diff --git a/.github/workflows/cpp.yml b/.github/workflows/cpp.yml
index 493e7ab567af..f147aa5907ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cpp.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cpp.yml
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ jobs:
       ARROW_WITH_SNAPPY: ON
       ARROW_WITH_ZLIB: ON
       ARROW_WITH_ZSTD: ON
+      # MSYS2 update to simdjson 5.x breaks parquet-reader-test
+      simdjson_SOURCE: BUNDLED
       ARROW_CMAKE_ARGS: >-
         -DARROW_PACKAGE_PREFIX=/${{ matrix.msystem_lower}}
         -DCMAKE_FIND_PACKAGE_PREFER_CONFIG=ON