diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
index 0cbfaed0d..d20cc2bf0 100644
--- a/.python-version
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.8.5
+3.8.10
diff --git a/Dockerfile.openpilot_base b/Dockerfile.openpilot_base
index b05b180bd..d35acfdbe 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.openpilot_base
+++ b/Dockerfile.openpilot_base
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ RUN curl -L https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv-installer/raw/master/bin/pyenv-instal
 ENV PATH="/root/.pyenv/bin:/root/.pyenv/shims:${PATH}"
 
 COPY Pipfile Pipfile.lock /tmp/
-RUN pyenv install 3.8.5 && \
-    pyenv global 3.8.5 && \
+RUN pyenv install 3.8.10 && \
+    pyenv global 3.8.10 && \
     pyenv rehash && \
     pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade pip==20.1.1 && \
     pip install --no-cache-dir pipenv==2020.8.13 && \
diff --git a/tools/README.md b/tools/README.md
index 74987f4f7..b0c250811 100644
--- a/tools/README.md
+++ b/tools/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ cd openpilot && scons -j$(nproc)
 
 4. Try out some tools!
 
+NOTE: you can always run `update_requirements.py` to pull in new python dependencies.
+
 Windows
 ------------