diff --git a/bioimageio_collection_backoffice/validate_format.py b/bioimageio_collection_backoffice/validate_format.py
index c6a40e67..8dea6ec2 100644
--- a/bioimageio_collection_backoffice/validate_format.py
+++ b/bioimageio_collection_backoffice/validate_format.py
@@ -146,7 +146,11 @@ def get_pytorch_env(
     conda_env = get_base_env()
     conda_env["channels"].insert(0, "pytorch")
     conda_env["dependencies"].extend(
-        [f"pytorch {get_version_range(pytorch_version)}", "cpuonly"]
+        [
+            f"pytorch {get_version_range(pytorch_version)}",
+            "cpuonly",
+            "mkl !=2024.1.0",  #  avoid https://github.com/pytorch/pytorch/issues/123097
+        ]
     )
     return conda_env