diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6bbfe0507a1..0f8f095e557 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ template = "changes.d/changelog-template.jinja"
 underlines = ["", "", ""]
 title_format = "## __cylc-{version} (Released {project_date})__"
 issue_format = "[#{issue}](https://github.com/cylc/cylc-flow/pull/{issue})"
+ignore = ["changelog-template.jinja"]
 
 # These changelog sections will be shown in the defined order:
 [[tool.towncrier.type]]
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index be1e9383431..0a575e6b449 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ tests =
     pytest-mock>=3.7
     pytest>=6
     testfixtures>=6.11.0
-    towncrier>=23
+    towncrier>=24.7.0rc1; python_version > "3.7"
     # Type annotation stubs
     # http://mypy-lang.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-upcoming-switch-to-modular-typeshed.html
     types-Jinja2>=0.1.3