diff --git a/ci/release/update-version.sh b/ci/release/update-version.sh
index 4d84a1a6..0dc29801 100755
--- a/ci/release/update-version.sh
+++ b/ci/release/update-version.sh
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES=(
   cuspatial
 )
 for DEP in "${DEPENDENCIES[@]}"; do
-  for FILE in dependencies.yaml conda/environments/*.yaml ci/utils/external_dependencies.yaml; do
+  for FILE in dependencies.yaml conda/environments/*.yaml; do
     sed_runner "/-.* ${DEP}\(-cu[[:digit:]]\{2\}\)\{0,1\}==/ s/==.*/==${NEXT_SHORT_TAG_PEP440}.*,>=0.0.0a0/g" "${FILE}"
   done
   for FILE in python/pyproject.toml; do