diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index b50bddd0ed068330ab82b0cd6e8b2fb23da15135..ef3f16bfa483515e081fe5b2d8662a9f322a89a1 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ dependencies:
   - redis-py<5
   - conda-forge::usgscsm
   - vlfeat
-  - protobuf=3.20
+  - protobuf<=3.20
   - pip
   - pip:
     - image_registration
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