diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index d30abc4..ab30b2d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ jobs:
         pytest -v
     - name: run mypy
       run: mypy sqlite_utils tests
-    - name: run flake8
+    - name: run flake8 if Python 3.8 or higher
+      if: matrix.python-version >= 3.8
       run: flake8
     - name: Check formatting
       run: black . --check