diff --git a/renovate.json b/renovate.json
index a45c84c..5883158 100644
--- a/renovate.json
+++ b/renovate.json
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
       "allowedVersions": "<6.0.0",
       "description": "Backstage pins TypeScript ~5.7"
     },
+    {
+      "matchPackageNames": ["p-limit"],
+      "allowedVersions": "<4.0.0",
+      "description": "p-limit v4+ is pure ESM; our CommonJS backend plugin and Backstage's own backend packages stay on v3"
+    },
     {
       "matchPackageNames": ["@material-ui/core", "@material-ui/icons"],
       "matchUpdateTypes": ["replacement"],