diff --git a/scripts/ci/rust_checks.py b/scripts/ci/rust_checks.py
index 7508adf91726..e851b6d75d4c 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/rust_checks.py
+++ b/scripts/ci/rust_checks.py
@@ -156,7 +156,9 @@ def cargo_deny(timings: list[Timing]) -> None:
     # Note: running just `cargo deny check` without a `--target` can result in
     # false positives due to https://github.com/EmbarkStudios/cargo-deny/issues/324
     # Installing is quite quick if it's already installed.
-    timings.append(run_cargo("install", "--locked cargo-deny"))
+    #
+    # `cargo-deny` 0.16.2 raises MSRV 1.81.0, we're not there yet.
+    timings.append(run_cargo("install", "--locked cargo-deny@0.16.1"))
     timings.append(run_cargo("deny", "--all-features --log-level error --target aarch64-apple-darwin check"))
     timings.append(run_cargo("deny", "--all-features --log-level error --target i686-pc-windows-gnu check"))
     timings.append(run_cargo("deny", "--all-features --log-level error --target i686-pc-windows-msvc check"))