diff --git a/.github/workflows/extended.yml b/.github/workflows/extended.yml
index 3f882d7a3a82..1ad1c36e1aa7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/extended.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/extended.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ jobs:
   linux-build-lib:
     name: linux build test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # note: do not use amd/rust container to preserve disk space
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh -s -- -y
           source $HOME/.cargo/env
-          rustup default stable
+          rustup toolchain install
       - name: Install Protobuf Compiler
         run: sudo apt-get install -y protobuf-compiler
       - name: Prepare cargo build
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ jobs:
     name: cargo test 'extended_tests' (amd64)
     needs: linux-build-lib
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # note: do not use amd/rust container to preserve disk space
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh -s -- -y
           source $HOME/.cargo/env
-          rustup default stable
+          rustup toolchain install
       - name: Install Protobuf Compiler
         run: sudo apt-get install -y protobuf-compiler
       # For debugging, test binaries can be large.
diff --git a/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh b/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
index 2c0bd216b3ac..a053569dcb24 100755
--- a/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
+++ b/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
@@ -117,8 +117,11 @@ test_source_distribution() {
 
   # build and test rust
 
+  # install the needed version of rust defined in rust-toolchain.toml
+  rustup toolchain install
+
   # raises on any formatting errors
-  rustup component add rustfmt --toolchain stable
+  rustup component add rustfmt
   cargo fmt --all -- --check
 
   # Clone testing repositories into the expected location