diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
index 67f7a83..8175c9a 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ jobs:
     container: catthehacker/ubuntu:act-latest
     services:
       mariadb:
-        image: mariadb:latest
+        # TODO: this is pinned to avoid what apears to be a bug with
+        # MariaDB >= 10.11.9, and collation issues with 11.x.x
+        image: mariadb:10.11.8
         env:
           MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD: whatever
         healthcheck: