diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_release.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_release.yml
index e9fdc08159..f529df88e8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_release.yml
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ jobs:
     name: "gate"
     uses: ./.github/workflows/gate.yml
     with:
+      python_versions: '["3.8"]'
       ANSYS_VERSION: "241"
       standalone_suffix: ${{ github.event.inputs.standalone_branch_suffix || '.pre0' }}
     secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/gate.yml b/.github/workflows/gate.yml
index 3f79653d18..8f0a91ba6e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gate.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ on:
       python_versions:
         required: false
         type: string
-        default: '["3.7"]'
+        default: '["3.8"]'
       ANSYS_VERSION:
         required: false
         type: string
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ on:
         description: "Python interpreters to test."
         required: true
         type: string
-        default: '["3.7"]'
+        default: '["3.8"]'
       ANSYS_VERSION:
         description: "ANSYS version"
         required: true