diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 5f05ecb1..268bc138 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 name: CI
 
-env:
-  go-version: "1.19"
-
 # Controls when the action will run. Triggers the workflow on push or pull request
 # events but only for the master branch
 on:
@@ -19,7 +16,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: set up go
         uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
-          go-version: ${{ env.go-version }}
+          check-latest: true
+          go-version-file: "release/go/go.mod"
 
       - name: lint and check build
         run: |
diff --git a/release/go/go.mod b/release/go/go.mod
index fe1f009d..31760521 100644
--- a/release/go/go.mod
+++ b/release/go/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/spacemeshos/api/release/go
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.20
 
 require (
 	github.com/golang/protobuf v1.5.3