diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index 37eccd332c..35e60d8729 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -38,8 +38,11 @@ jobs:
       eval "$(conda shell.bash hook)"
       conda config --add channels conda-forge
       conda config --set channel_priority strict
-      conda install --yes python=$PYTHON_VERSION conda conda-build mamba boa
-      conda update --all --yes
+      conda update --yes --all
+      conda install --yes mamba
+      # workaround based on recent failures
+      rm /usr/share/miniconda/pkgs/cache/*.json
+      mamba install --yes conda-build boa
     displayName: Update conda base environment
 
   - bash: |
@@ -188,8 +191,11 @@ jobs:
       eval "$(conda shell.bash hook)"
       conda config --add channels conda-forge
       conda config --set channel_priority strict
-      conda install --yes python=$PYTHON_VERSION conda conda-build mamba boa
-      conda update --all --yes
+      conda update --yes --all
+      conda install --yes mamba
+      # workaround based on recent failures
+      rm /usr/share/miniconda/pkgs/cache/*.json
+      mamba install --yes conda-build boa
     displayName: Update conda base environment
 
   - bash: |