diff --git a/release/sign-launcher.py b/release/sign-launcher.py
index 865661227..e19a6fcaa 100755
--- a/release/sign-launcher.py
+++ b/release/sign-launcher.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ import sys
 import util
 
 
+assert sys.version_info >= (3, 9), "Release framework requires Python 3.9+"
+
+
 def sign(opts):
     """Sign the launcher!"""
     output = ""
diff --git a/release/sign-tag.py b/release/sign-tag.py
index fbfe7b260..ceef48b3a 100755
--- a/release/sign-tag.py
+++ b/release/sign-tag.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ import sys
 import util
 
 
+assert sys.version_info >= (3, 9), "Release framework requires Python 3.9+"
+
+
 # We currently sign with the old DSA key as it's been around the longest.
 # We should transition to RSA by Jun 2020, and ECC by Jun 2021.
 KEYID = util.KEYID_DSA
diff --git a/release/update-hooks b/release/update-hooks
index def4bba9e..3b61b01f4 100755
--- a/release/update-hooks
+++ b/release/update-hooks
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from typing import List, Optional
 import urllib.request
 
 
-assert sys.version_info >= (3, 8), "Python 3.8+ required"
+assert sys.version_info >= (3, 9), "Release framework requires Python 3.9+"
 
 
 TOPDIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
diff --git a/release/update_manpages.py b/release/update_manpages.py
index 9ada83ff3..8bd69b6a7 100644
--- a/release/update_manpages.py
+++ b/release/update_manpages.py
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ import tempfile
 from typing import List
 
 
+# NB: This script is currently imported by tests/ to unittest some logic.
+assert sys.version_info >= (3, 6), "Python 3.6+ required"
+
+
 THIS_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve()
 TOPDIR = THIS_FILE.parent.parent
 MANDIR = TOPDIR.joinpath("man")
diff --git a/run_tests b/run_tests
index 2e1cddb59..0cd53e610 100755
--- a/run_tests
+++ b/run_tests
@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ import shlex
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
-from typing import List
+
+
+# NB: While tests/* support Python >=3.6 to match requirements.json for `repo`,
+# the higher level runner logic does not need to be held back.
+assert sys.version_info >= (3, 9), "Test/release framework requires Python 3.9+"
 
 
 ROOT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
@@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ def is_ci() -> bool:
     return os.getenv("LUCI_CQ") == "yes"
 
 
-def run_pytest(argv: List[str]) -> int:
+def run_pytest(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     """Returns the exit code from pytest."""
     if is_ci():
         argv = ["-m", "not skip_cq"] + argv
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@ def run_pytest(argv: List[str]) -> int:
     ).returncode
 
 
-def run_pytest_py38(argv: List[str]) -> int:
+def run_pytest_py38(argv: list[str]) -> int:
     """Returns the exit code from pytest under Python 3.8."""
     if is_ci():
         argv = ["-m", "not skip_cq"] + argv