diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index ca8d3f05..4fa94841 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build:
   image: latest
 
 python:
-  version: 3.7
+  version: 3.8
   install:
     - method: pip
       path: .
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 581101da..c4365ad1 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ github_project = spacetelescope/astrocut
 [options]
 zip_safe = False
 packages = find:
-python_requires = >=3.9
+python_requires = >=3.8
 setup_requires = setuptools_scm
 install_requires =
     astropy>=5.2.0 # astropy with s3fs support