diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-test.yaml
index 5a78f73fd..cbe8e6ed3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-test.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: set up Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v3
-        with: {go-version: '^1.18'}
+        with:
+          go-version-file: 'go.mod'
 
       - name: setup base dependencies
         run: |-
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
index a45a2d984..e44599ba0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validation.yaml
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: set up Go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v3
-        with: {go-version: '^1.18'}
+        with:
+          go-version-file: 'go.mod'
 
       - name: setup carvel tooling binaries
         uses: vmware-tanzu/carvel-setup-action@v1