diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 7baee9c..bb2cf4a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -15,17 +15,14 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       max-parallel: 10
       matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.12', '3.11', '3.10', '3.9', '3.8']
+        python-version: ['3.12', '3.11', '3.10', '3.9']
         os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest]
         exclude:
           # mac os: exclude all but the last two (available) python releases
           - os: macos-latest
-            python-version: 3.8
+            python-version: 3.10
           - os: macos-latest
-            python-version: 3.7
-          # mac os: exclude python 3.11 since it's not yet available for runners
-          - os: macos-latest
-            python-version: 3.11
+            python-version: 3.9
 
     steps:
       - name: checkout
@@ -42,9 +39,11 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-python@v4.3.0
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python }}
+
+      - name: set up virtual env
+        run: python3 -m venv venv
         
       - name: upgrade pip
-        if: ${{ matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest' }}
         run: python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
       - name: pip install development dependencies