diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
index 3c6c1f286..4341b9286 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   pre-commit:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     strategy:
       matrix:
         # make sure python versions are consistent with those used in .circleci/config.yml