diff --git a/.github/workflows/python_package.yaml b/.github/workflows/python_package.yaml
index 399fdbd8..7c0d30ff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python_package.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python_package.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ jobs:
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           python -m pip install pytest pytest-codspeed
           python -m pip install .
+          # temp pin until 0.5 is on conda
+          python -m pip install "jax<0.5.0"
 
       - name: Test with pytest
         run: |
diff --git a/tests/jax/test_benchmarks.py b/tests/jax/test_benchmarks.py
index 7ef21332..d00cad23 100644
--- a/tests/jax/test_benchmarks.py
+++ b/tests/jax/test_benchmarks.py
@@ -212,3 +212,29 @@ def test_benchmark_spergel_kvalue(benchmark, kind):
         benchmark, kind, lambda: _run_spergel_bench_kvalue_jit().block_until_ready()
     )
     print(f"time: {dt:0.4g} ms", end=" ")
+
+
+@jax.jit
+def _run_spergel_bench_init():
+    return jgs.Spergel(nu=-0.6, half_light_radius=3.4).scale_radius
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("kind", ["compile", "run"])
+def test_benchmark_spergel_init(benchmark, kind):
+    dt = _run_benchmarks(
+        benchmark, kind, lambda: _run_spergel_bench_init().block_until_ready()
+    )
+    print(f"time: {dt:0.4g} ms", end=" ")
+
+
+@jax.jit
+def _run_gaussian_bench_init():
+    return jgs.Gaussian(half_light_radius=3.4).sigma
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("kind", ["compile", "run"])
+def test_benchmark_gaussian_init(benchmark, kind):
+    dt = _run_benchmarks(
+        benchmark, kind, lambda: _run_gaussian_bench_init().block_until_ready()
+    )
+    print(f"time: {dt:0.4g} ms", end=" ")