diff --git a/.evergreen/install-dependencies.sh b/.evergreen/install-dependencies.sh
index 9eb290732..0ecab992d 100755
--- a/.evergreen/install-dependencies.sh
+++ b/.evergreen/install-dependencies.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ for arg; do
 
         source .evergreen/configure-rust.sh
         rustup toolchain install nightly -c rustfmt
+        # TODO RUST-1674: remove this workaround
+        rustup default 1.69
     elif [ $arg == "mdbook" ]; then
         source ${CARGO_HOME}/env
         # Install the manual rendering tool