diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index a15c74a..5ace4c5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ env:
 jobs:
   test:
     strategy:
+      # https://blog.jaraco.com/efficient-use-of-ci-resources/
       matrix:
         python:
         - "3.8"
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ jobs:
         - python: pypy3.10
           platform: ubuntu-latest
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.platform }}
-    continue-on-error: ${{ matrix.python == '3.13' }}
+    continue-on-error: ${{ matrix.python == '3.13' || (matrix.python == '3.8' || matrix.python == '3.9') && matrix.platform == 'macos-latest' }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Setup Python
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ab1b49c..fb5e825 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Homepage = "https://github.com/jaraco/jaraco.nxt"
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 testing = [
 	# upstream
-	"pytest >= 6, != 8.1.1",
+	"pytest >= 6, != 8.1.*",
 	"pytest-checkdocs >= 2.4",
 	"pytest-cov",
 	"pytest-mypy",