diff --git a/stacks/pinot-noir/definitions_stack.yaml b/stacks/pinot-noir/definitions_stack.yaml
index bb46d729b7db075741cc28ab35fc262cba625feb..6e8bcffb3f3554ce9eed7835abac463062d32c9d 100644
--- a/stacks/pinot-noir/definitions_stack.yaml
+++ b/stacks/pinot-noir/definitions_stack.yaml
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ definitions:
       - cgal
       - cp2k ++mpi +plumed +openmp smm=blas
       - fenics-dolfinx
-      - gromacs ++mpi +plumed
+      - gromacs@2024.3 ++mpi +plumed
       - iq-tree@1.6.12++mpi
       - lammps
       - neuron ++mpi +python
diff --git a/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml b/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
index f3851e9b5dbd548da363ffb6ede8e92fed1594f5..e7e2c51ec4e8be9100590d1e132c5e7a944d3165 100644
--- a/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
+++ b/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ packages:
 
   plumed:
     require: ['optional_modules=all', '+gsl', '+mpi']
+    prefer: ['@2.9.0'] # to not reinstall new versions of all dependents
 
   python:
     require: