diff --git a/.github/workflows/pytest.yml b/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
index e3db6fbfc..71a7ebd05 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pytest.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up python
         uses: actions/setup-python@v2
         with:
-          python-version: 3.9
+          python-version: 3.8
       #----------------------------------------------
       #  -----  install & configure poetry  -----
       #----------------------------------------------