diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index d291caae..4f8141e3 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ Repository = "https://github.com/SMTG-Bham/doped"
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 tests = [
-    "pytest<8.2",  # with pytest==8.2.0, seemed to cause memory issue on GH Actions mpl tests, python=3.10
-    "pytest-mpl>=0.16.1"
+    "pytest>=8.3",  # with pytest==8.2.0, seemed to cause memory issue on GH Actions mpl tests, python=3.10
+    "pytest-mpl>=0.16.1",
+    "mp-api",  # not required by default as user can use legacy API, but needed for tests
 ]
 docs = ["sphinx", "sphinx-book-theme", "sphinx_design"]
 analysis = [