diff --git a/.github/workflows/plugins.yml b/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
index 633f5940078..2da72474c5a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/plugins.yml
@@ -942,9 +942,11 @@ jobs:
         version:
           - 18
           - latest
+        range: ['>=9.5 <11.1', '>=11.1 <13.2', '>=13.2']
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       PLUGINS: next
+      PACKAGE_VERSION_RANGE: ${{ matrix.range }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: ./.github/actions/testagent/start
diff --git a/scripts/install_plugin_modules.js b/scripts/install_plugin_modules.js
index f61774f5619..24b9a0a9c96 100644
--- a/scripts/install_plugin_modules.js
+++ b/scripts/install_plugin_modules.js
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ async function assertVersions () {
 }
 
 async function assertInstrumentation (instrumentation, external) {
-  const versions = process.env.PACKAGE_VERSION_RANGE
+  const versions = process.env.PACKAGE_VERSION_RANGE && !external
     ? [process.env.PACKAGE_VERSION_RANGE]
     : [].concat(instrumentation.versions || [])