diff --git a/binder/environment.yml b/binder/environment.yml
index 6c65032..89dbcc4 100644
--- a/binder/environment.yml
+++ b/binder/environment.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ dependencies:
   - jupyter-server-proxy
   - jupyter_server=1.23.6  # known working with old jupyterhub-singleuser
   - jupyterhub-singleuser=1.3.0  # match JupyterHub deployment version
-  - jupyterlab-h5web
+  - jupyterlab-h5web=8.*  # pinned to 8 while jupyterlab=3 is used
   - jupyterlab=3.*
   - nbconvert-webpdf
   - nbgitpuller