diff --git a/tests/rptest/tests/rbac_upgrade_test.py b/tests/rptest/tests/rbac_upgrade_test.py
index 39b0db115747b..8bc41b63d150d 100644
--- a/tests/rptest/tests/rbac_upgrade_test.py
+++ b/tests/rptest/tests/rbac_upgrade_test.py
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ def test_rbac_migration(self):
         self.admin.create_user("bob")
 
         # Update all nodes to newest version
-        self.installer.install(self.redpanda.nodes,
-                               self.installer.head_version())
+        self.installer.install(self.redpanda.nodes, (24, 1))
         self.redpanda.restart_nodes(self.redpanda.nodes)
         _ = wait_for_num_versions(self.redpanda, 1)