diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
index c7aadaa2..5834aace 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
@@ -71,17 +71,19 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        python: ["3.12", "3.11", "3.10", "3.9"]
-        kubernetes-version: ["v1.27.11"]
-        include: # on main merges (not PRs), use also different K8s versions for E2E testing
-          - python: "3.12"
-            kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && 'v1.28.7' }}
-          - python: "3.12"
-            kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && 'v1.29.2' }}
-          - python: "3.12"
-            kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' && 'v1.30.6' }}
-        exclude:
-          - kubernetes-version: 'false'
+        python: ["3.12"] # see below for versions 3.9-3.11
+        kubernetes-version: ["v1.27.11", "v1.28.7", "v1.29.2", "v1.30.6"]
+        exclude: # on main merges (not PRs), use also different K8s versions for E2E testing
+          - kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name != 'push' && 'v1.28.7' }}
+          - kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name != 'push' && 'v1.29.2' }}
+          - kubernetes-version: ${{ github.event_name != 'push' && 'v1.30.6' }}
+        include: # test Py versions only with a reference K8s version, designated currently to kubernetes-version: v1.27.11
+          - python: "3.11"
+            kubernetes-version: "v1.27.11"
+          - python: "3.10"
+            kubernetes-version: "v1.27.11"
+          - python: "3.9"
+            kubernetes-version: "v1.27.11"
     env:
       FORCE_COLOR: "1"
       IMG_ORG: kubeflow