diff --git a/.github/actions/create-conda-env/action.yml b/.github/actions/create-conda-env/action.yml
index f033ed937d..1c302764f2 100644
--- a/.github/actions/create-conda-env/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/create-conda-env/action.yml
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ runs:
         else
           echo "Creating a conda environment for each toolchain with the toolchain installed"
           conda activate base
-          conda-lock install -n ${{ env.conda-env-name-no-time }}-$(date --date "${{ env.workflow-timestamp }}" +%Y%m%d)-riscv-tools ./conda-reqs/conda-lock-reqs/conda-requirements-riscv-tools-linux-64.conda-lock.yml
-          conda-lock install -n ${{ env.conda-env-name-no-time }}-$(date --date "${{ env.workflow-timestamp }}" +%Y%m%d)-esp-tools ./conda-reqs/conda-lock-reqs/conda-requirements-esp-tools-linux-64.conda-lock.yml
+          conda-lock install --conda $(which conda) -n ${{ env.conda-env-name-no-time }}-$(date --date "${{ env.workflow-timestamp }}" +%Y%m%d)-riscv-tools ./conda-reqs/conda-lock-reqs/conda-requirements-riscv-tools-linux-64.conda-lock.yml
+          conda-lock install --conda $(which conda) -n ${{ env.conda-env-name-no-time }}-$(date --date "${{ env.workflow-timestamp }}" +%Y%m%d)-esp-tools ./conda-reqs/conda-lock-reqs/conda-requirements-esp-tools-linux-64.conda-lock.yml
           conda deactivate
 
           echo "Add extra toolchain collateral to RISC-V install area"
diff --git a/.github/scripts/install-conda.sh b/.github/scripts/install-conda.sh
index 54e7159f8d..b6fcce1891 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/install-conda.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/install-conda.sh
@@ -145,15 +145,16 @@ else
     $SUDO bash ./install_conda.sh -b -p "$CONDA_INSTALL_PREFIX" $conda_install_extra
     rm ./install_conda.sh
 
+    # get most up-to-date conda version
+    "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" update $DRY_RUN_OPTION -y -n base -c conda-forge conda
+
     # see https://conda-forge.org/docs/user/tipsandtricks.html#multiple-channels
     # for more information on flexible channel_priority
     "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" config --system --set channel_priority flexible
     # By default, don't mess with people's PS1, I personally find it annoying
     "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" config --system --set changeps1 false
-    # don't automatically activate the 'base' environment when intializing shells
+    # don't automatically activate the 'base' environment when initializing shells
     "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" config --system --set auto_activate_base false
-    # don't automatically update conda to avoid https://github.com/conda-forge/conda-libmamba-solver-feedstock/issues/2
-    "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" config --system --set auto_update_conda false
     # automatically use the ucb-bar channel for specific packages https://anaconda.org/ucb-bar/repo
     "${DRY_RUN_ECHO[@]}" $SUDO "$CONDA_EXE" config --system --add channels ucb-bar