diff --git a/lcviz/helper.py b/lcviz/helper.py
index 295d4477..ab3bb328 100644
--- a/lcviz/helper.py
+++ b/lcviz/helper.py
@@ -92,11 +92,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         )
 
         # inject custom css from lcviz_style.vue (on top of jdaviz styles)
-        if hasattr(self.app, '_add_style'):
-            # will be guaranteed after jdaviz 3.9
-            self.app._add_style((__file__, 'lcviz_style.vue'))
-        else:
-            self.app.set_style_template_file((__file__, 'lcviz_style.vue'))
+        self.app._add_style((__file__, 'lcviz_style.vue'))
 
         # set the link to read the docs
         self.app.docs_link = "https://lcviz.readthedocs.io"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 0f9907e6..a974fdce 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "astropy>=5.2",
     # NOTE: if/when we stop pinning a minor version of jdaviz, add jdaviz
     # to devdeps in tox.ini
-    "jdaviz==3.8.*",
+    "jdaviz==3.9.*",
     "lightkurve>=2.4.1",
 ]
 dynamic = [