diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests_readme.yml b/.github/workflows/tests_readme.yml
index 5c6d0318d4..ac906125ab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests_readme.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests_readme.yml
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ on:
       - init/eessi_defaults
 
   pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
     paths:
       - README.md
       - init/eessi_defaults
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests_scripts.yml b/.github/workflows/tests_scripts.yml
index 5c0b3893ae..6ef9d57975 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests_scripts.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests_scripts.yml
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ on:
       - update_lmod_cache.sh
 
   pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
     paths:
       - build_container.sh
       - create_directory_tarballs.sh
@@ -42,7 +40,9 @@ jobs:
         # bind current directory into container as /software-layer
         export SINGULARITY_BIND="${PWD}:/software-layer"
 
-        for EB_VERSION in '4.5.0' '4.5.1' '4.7.2'; do
+        # can't test with EasyBuild versions older than v4.5.2 when using EESSI pilot 2023.06,
+        # since Python in compat layer is Python 3.11.x
+        for EB_VERSION in '4.5.2' '4.6.0' '4.7.2'; do
           # Create script that uses load_easybuild_module.sh which we can run in compat layer environment
           # note: Be careful with single vs double quotes below!
           #       ${EB_VERSION} should be expanded, so use double quotes;
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index daf02eebc2..e24de45b0e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@ See also https://eessi.github.io/docs/software_layer.
 You can set up your environment by sourcing the init script:
 
 ```
-$ source /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12/init/bash
-Found EESSI pilot repo @ /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12!
+$ source /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2023.06/init/bash
+Found EESSI pilot repo @ /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2023.06!
 Derived subdirectory for software layer: x86_64/intel/haswell
 Using x86_64/intel/haswell subdirectory for software layer (HARDCODED)
 Initializing Lmod...
-Prepending /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2021.12/software/x86_64/intel/haswell/modules/all to $MODULEPATH...
+Prepending /cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org/versions/2023.06/software/x86_64/intel/haswell/modules/all to $MODULEPATH...
 Environment set up to use EESSI pilot software stack, have fun!
-[EESSI pilot 2021.12] $
+[EESSI pilot 2023.06] $
 ```
 
 ### Accessing EESSI via a container
diff --git a/create_directory_tarballs.sh b/create_directory_tarballs.sh
index 70e666f871..4465465082 100755
--- a/create_directory_tarballs.sh
+++ b/create_directory_tarballs.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-SOFTWARE_LAYER_TARBALL_URL=https://github.com/EESSI/software-layer/tarball/main
+SOFTWARE_LAYER_TARBALL_URL=https://github.com/EESSI/software-layer/tarball/2023.06
 
 set -eo pipefail
 
diff --git a/init/eessi_defaults b/init/eessi_defaults
index f482cbc269..0143dc38ab 100644
--- a/init/eessi_defaults
+++ b/init/eessi_defaults
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@
 #
 
 export EESSI_CVMFS_REPO="${EESSI_CVMFS_REPO_OVERRIDE:=/cvmfs/pilot.eessi-hpc.org}"
-export EESSI_PILOT_VERSION="${EESSI_PILOT_VERSION_OVERRIDE:=2021.12}"
+export EESSI_PILOT_VERSION="${EESSI_PILOT_VERSION_OVERRIDE:=2023.06}"