diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 8e67baf1c..f256f0509 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -247,6 +247,8 @@ jobs:
         python -m pip install -r tests/requirements.txt
 
     - name: Configure
+      env:
+        SETUPTOOLS_USE_DISTUTILS: stdlib
       run: >
         cmake -S . -B build
         -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
@@ -555,37 +557,37 @@ jobs:
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
         cmake --build build-11 --target test_cmake_build
 
-    - name: Configure C++17
+    - name: Configure C++14
       run: |
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
-        cmake -S . -B build-17     \
+        cmake -S . -B build-14     \
         -DPYBIND11_WERROR=ON    \
         -DDOWNLOAD_CATCH=ON     \
         -DDOWNLOAD_EIGEN=OFF    \
-        -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=17             \
+        -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14             \
         -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=$(which icpc)  \
         -DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=$(python3 -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)")
 
-    - name: Build C++17
+    - name: Build C++14
       run: |
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
-        cmake --build build-17 -j 2 -v
+        cmake --build build-14 -j 2 -v
 
-    - name: Python tests C++17
+    - name: Python tests C++14
       run: |
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
         sudo service apport stop
-        cmake --build build-17 --target check
+        cmake --build build-14 --target check
 
-    - name: C++ tests C++17
+    - name: C++ tests C++14
       run: |
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
-        cmake --build build-17 --target cpptest
+        cmake --build build-14 --target cpptest
 
-    - name: Interface test C++17
+    - name: Interface test C++14
       run: |
         set +e; source /opt/intel/oneapi/setvars.sh; set -e
-        cmake --build build-17 --target test_cmake_build
+        cmake --build build-14 --target test_cmake_build
 
 
   # Testing on CentOS (manylinux uses a centos base, and this is an easy way