diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 34c6b93..675f3fa 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ node_modules
 dist
 yarn.lock
 package-lock.json
+platformio-node-helpers-11.3.0.tgz
diff --git a/src/installer/get-python.js b/src/installer/get-python.js
index 85cf046..abac2a9 100644
--- a/src/installer/get-python.js
+++ b/src/installer/get-python.js
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ jjxDah2nGN59PRbxYvnKkKj9
 -----END CERTIFICATE-----
 `;
 
-export async function findPythonExecutable() {
+export async function findPythonExecutable(options = {}) {
+  const maxPythonVersion = options.maxPythonVersion || process.env.PLATFORMIO_MAX_PYTHON_VERSION || '3.13';
   const exenames = proc.IS_WINDOWS ? ['python.exe'] : ['python3', 'python'];
   const envPath = process.env.PLATFORMIO_PATH || process.env.PATH;
   const errors = [];
@@ -116,6 +117,20 @@ export async function findPythonExecutable() {
           fs.existsSync(executable) &&
           (await callInstallerScript(executable, ['check', 'python']))
         ) {
+          // Verify Python version does not exceed maximum stable baseline
+          try {
+            const versionCheck = await proc.getCommandOutput(executable, [
+              '-c',
+              `import sys; print("1" if sys.version_info < tuple(map(int, "${maxPythonVersion}".split("."))) else "0")`
+            ]);
+            if (versionCheck.trim() !== '1') {
+              console.warn(`Python at ${executable} exceeds max supported version (>= ${maxPythonVersion})`);
+              continue; // Reject bleeding edge and force fallback loop
+            }
+          } catch (err) {
+            console.warn(`Failed to verify Python version structure for ${executable}:`, err);
+            continue;
+          }
           return executable;
         }
       } catch (err) {