diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index ca56d4e3..54e3b490 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ jobs:
             artifact_name: capa.exe
             asset_name: windows
           - os: macos-10.15
+            # use older macOS for assumed better portability
             artifact_name: capa
             asset_name: macos
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 128c4591..ed866547 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-20.04, windows-2019, macos-10.15]
+        os: [ubuntu-20.04, windows-2019, macos-11]
         # across all operating systems
         python-version: ["3.7", "3.10"]
         include: