diff --git a/noxfile.py b/noxfile.py
index dbc25683..e89b7c77 100644
--- a/noxfile.py
+++ b/noxfile.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import pathlib
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 
 import nox
 
@@ -22,6 +23,13 @@
 CI = os.environ.get('CI') is not None
 NOX_PYTHONS = os.environ.get('NOX_PYTHONS')
 
+if CI and not NOX_PYTHONS:
+    interpreter_version = f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}"
+    print(
+        f"CI job mode; using provided interpreter only; equivalent to NOX_PYTHONS={interpreter_version}"
+    )
+    NOX_PYTHONS = interpreter_version
+
 PYTHON_VERSIONS = [
     'pypy3.9',
     'pypy3.10',