diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 8ba1cf7..b441681 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ on:
 jobs:
   test:
     name: Node.js ${{ matrix.node }} + mongoDB ${{ matrix.mongodb }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # MongoDB < 8.0.35 refuses to start on newer runner kernels: https://jira.mongodb.org/browse/SERVER-131779
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix: