diff --git a/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec b/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
index a819e83..d309c06 100644
--- a/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
+++ b/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
@@ -2,11 +2,17 @@ Name:           pyproject-rpm-macros
 Summary:        RPM macros for PEP 517 Python packages
 License:        MIT
 
-%bcond_without tests
+# Disable tests on RHEL9 as to not pull in the test dependencies
+# Specify --with tests to run the tests e.g. on EPEL
+%bcond_with tests
 
-# Keep the version at zero and increment only release
+# Keep the version at zero and increment only release.
+# The release number indicates the feature set so only
+# increment it when syncing or rebasing from Fedora.
+# In other cases, such as backports, increment the point
+# release.
 Version:        0
-Release:        38%{?dist}
+Release:        38.1%{?dist}
 
 # Macro files
 Source001:      macros.pyproject
@@ -104,6 +110,9 @@ export HOSTNAME="rpmbuild"  # to speedup tox in network-less mock, see rhbz#1856
 %license LICENSE
 
 %changelog
+* Mon Mar 08 2021 Charalampos Stratakis <cstratak@redhat.com> - 0-39
+- Disable tests on RHEL9 to remove tox dependency
+
 * Sun Feb 07 2021 Miro Hrončok <mhroncok@redhat.com> - 0-38
 - Include nested __pycache__ directories in %%pyproject_save_files
 - Fixes: rhbz#1925963