diff --git a/expat-requires.py b/expat-requires.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fe23fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/expat-requires.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import pathlib
+import pyexpat
+import sys
+
+
+# This will determine the version of currently installed expat
+EXPAT_VERSION = pyexpat.EXPAT_VERSION.removeprefix('expat_')
+MAJOR, MINOR, PATCH = (int(i) for i in EXPAT_VERSION.split('.'))
+EXPAT_COMBINED_VERSION = 10000*MAJOR + 100*MINOR + PATCH
+
+# For the listed files, we find all XML_COMBINED_VERSION-based #ifs
+SRC = pathlib.Path.cwd()
+SOURCES = [
+    SRC / 'Modules/pyexpat.c',
+    SRC / 'Modules/clinic/pyexpat.c.h',
+]
+versions = set()
+for source in SOURCES:
+    for line in source.read_text().splitlines():
+        if 'XML_COMBINED_VERSION' not in line:
+            continue
+        words = line.split()
+        if words[0] == '#define':
+            continue
+        if len(words) != 4:
+            continue
+        if words[0] not in ('#if', '#elif'):
+            continue
+        if words[1].startswith('(') and words[-1].endswith(')'):
+            words[1] = words[1][1:]
+            words[-1] = words[-1][:-1]
+        if words[1] == 'XML_COMBINED_VERSION':
+            version = int(words[3])
+            if words[2] == '>':
+                versions.add(version+1)
+                continue
+            if words[2] == '>=':
+                versions.add(version)
+                continue
+        raise ValueError(
+            'Unknown line with XML_COMBINED_VERSION, adjust this script:\n\n'
+            f'{line}'
+        )
+
+# We need the highest satisfiable version used in the #ifs, in x.y.z notation
+v = max({v for v in versions if v <= EXPAT_COMBINED_VERSION})
+major, minor_patch = divmod(v, 10000)
+minor, patch = divmod(minor_patch, 100)
+print(f"{major}.{minor}.{patch}")
+
diff --git a/python3.12.spec b/python3.12.spec
index 48059f4..9bd429d 100644
--- a/python3.12.spec
+++ b/python3.12.spec
@@ -347,6 +347,9 @@ Source2: https://github.com/Yhg1s.gpg
 # Originally written by bkabrda
 Source8: check-pyc-timestamps.py
 
+# A script that determines the required expat version
+Source9: expat-requires.py
+
 # Desktop menu entry for idle3
 Source10: idle3.desktop
 
@@ -614,12 +617,13 @@ Recommends: (%{pkgname}-tkinter%{?_isa} = %{version}-%{release} if tk%{?_isa})
 Requires: tzdata
 
 # The requirement on libexpat is generated, but we need to version it.
-# When built with expat >= 2.6, but installed with older expat, we get:
+# When built with newer expat, but installed with older expat, we get:
 #   ImportError: /usr/lib64/python3.X/lib-dynload/pyexpat.cpython-....so:
 #   undefined symbol: XML_SetReparseDeferralEnabled
 # This breaks many things, including python -m venv.
 # Other subpackages (like -debug) also need this, but they all depend on -libs.
-Requires: expat >= 2.6
+%global expat_min_version 2.7.2
+Requires: expat%{_isa} >= %{expat_min_version}
 
 %description -n %{pkgname}-libs
 This package contains runtime libraries for use by Python:
@@ -1264,6 +1268,11 @@ for Module in %{buildroot}/%{dynload_dir}/*.so ; do
     esac
 done
 
+# Check the expat compatibility
+expat_found=$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH="%{buildroot}%{_libdir}" PYTHONPATH="%{buildroot}%{pylibdir}" %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/python%{pybasever} %{SOURCE9})
+if [ "${expat_found}" != "%{expat_min_version}" ]; then
+    echo "Found expat version is different than the declared one, found: ${expat_found}" ; exit 1
+fi
 
 # ======================================================
 # Running the upstream test suite
@@ -1824,6 +1833,7 @@ CheckPython optimized
 * Thu Apr 16 2026 Tomáš Hrnčiar <thrnciar@redhat.com> - 3.12.13-1
 - Update to 3.12.13
 - Security fixes for CVE-2025-6075, CVE-2025-13837, CVE-2025-15282, CVE-2025-59375, CVE-2026-0672
+- Require expat >= 2.7.2 to prevent symbol lookup errors at runtime with older expat
 Related: RHEL-167886, RHEL-168120
 
 * Fri Mar 27 2026 Tomáš Hrnčiar <thrnciar@redhat.com> - 3.12.12-6