diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 3cd2c5e633..52d35c50a8 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ skip_install = True
 basepython = python3.6
 deps =
     flake8
-    black
+    black==19.3b0
 commands =
     python -m black --check --diff .
     /bin/sh -c "flake8 synapse tests scripts scripts-dev scripts/hash_password scripts/register_new_matrix_user scripts/synapse_port_db synctl {env:PEP8SUFFIX:}"