diff --git a/.github/workflows/linting.yml b/.github/workflows/linting.yml
index bfa19cc1a8..0e40f3909d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linting.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linting.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ jobs:
     - name: install Python packages
       run: |
         pip install --upgrade pip
-        pip install --upgrade flake8
+        # fix to this version for develop branch (to avoid needing to fix geant4.py)
+        pip install --upgrade "flake8<7.1"
 
     - name: Run flake8 to verify PEP8-compliance of Python code
       run: flake8