diff --git a/.github/workflows/cargo_publish.yml b/.github/workflows/cargo_publish.yml
index a0163c596d..6c8bd40b56 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cargo_publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cargo_publish.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install deno
         uses: denoland/setup-deno@v1
         with:
-          deno-version: v1.x
+          # use a recent version instead of the latest version in case
+          # the latest version ever has issues that breaks publishing
+          deno-version: v1.23.2
 
       - name: Publish
         env:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/version_bump.yml b/.github/workflows/version_bump.yml
index bb31bb0498..a72ee1cf6c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/version_bump.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/version_bump.yml
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install deno
         uses: denoland/setup-deno@v1
         with:
-          deno-version: v1.x
+          # use a recent version instead of the latest version in case
+          # the latest version ever has issues that breaks publishing
+          deno-version: v1.23.2
 
       - name: Run version bump
         run: |