diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
index 71c330c5a..31efb4616 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -euxo pipefail
 
+          # install older version of pip to fix the botched dependency resolver
+          pip install 'pip==20.3.3' --force-reinstall
+
           pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
           pip install -r requirements.txt