diff --git a/.github/workflows/pnl-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/pnl-ci.yml
index 8235041211d..cdb4e54e947 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pnl-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pnl-ci.yml
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ jobs:
         python-architecture: ['x64']
         extra-args: ['']
         os: [ubuntu, macos, windows]
+        version-restrict: ['']
         include:
           # code-coverage build on macos python 3.9
           - python-version: '3.9'
@@ -78,11 +79,18 @@ jobs:
           - python-version: '3.10'
             os: macos
             # pytest needs both '--benchmark-only' and '-m benchmark'
-            # The former fails the test if benchamrks cannot be enabled
+            # The former fails the test if benchmarks cannot be enabled
+            # (e.g. due to --dist setting)
             # The latter works around a crash in pytest when collecting tests:
             # https://github.com/ionelmc/pytest-benchmark/issues/243
             extra-args: '-m benchmark --benchmark-enable --benchmark-only --benchmark-min-rounds=2 --benchmark-max-time=0.001 --benchmark-warmup=off -n0 --dist=no'
 
+          # add python 3.7 with deps restricted to min supported version
+          - python-version: '3.7'
+            python-architecture: 'x64'
+            os: ubuntu
+            version-restrict: 'min'
+
           # add python 3.8 build on macos since 3.7 is broken
           # https://github.com/actions/virtual-environments/issues/4230
           - python-version: '3.8'
@@ -115,6 +123,13 @@ jobs:
         python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
         architecture: ${{ matrix.python-architecture }}
 
+    - name: Restrict version of direct dependencies
+      if: ${{ matrix.restrict-version == 'min' }}
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        sed -i '/^[^#]/s/>=/==/' *requirements.txt
+        git commit -a -m "Restrict version of direct dependencies to min"
+
     - name: Get pip cache location
       shell: bash
       id: pip_cache