diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 4814c23d8eb..7ef76755eae 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-default_language_version:
-    python: python3.11
-
 repos:
 # - repo: https://github.com/psf/black
 #   rev: 23.1.0
@@ -32,5 +29,7 @@ repos:
   rev: v2.2.3
   hooks:
     - id: codespell
+      additional_dependencies:
+        - tomli
       files: ^mne/|^doc/|^examples/|^tutorials/
       types_or: [python, bib, rst, inc]
diff --git a/requirements_testing.txt b/requirements_testing.txt
index c8ff7b5c5fb..fa6c7b86b3f 100644
--- a/requirements_testing.txt
+++ b/requirements_testing.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ ruff
 numpydoc
 codespell
 check-manifest
+tomli; python_version<'3.11'
 twine
 wheel
 pre-commit