diff --git a/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml b/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
index 094d4a6777605efd7a1741c0cfb9690d2664547e..7139db63b25e52efdfd9fa760e5b74b82953bf78 100644
--- a/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
+++ b/stacks/pinot-noir/packages_stack.yaml
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ packages:
   mesa:
     require: ['~llvm', '+opengl', '+opengles', '+osmesa']
 
+  meson:
+    prefer: ['@1.2.1']
+
   metis:
     require: ['+real64']
 
@@ -152,9 +155,17 @@ packages:
     - spec: '%gcc@12.3.0'
       when: '%gcc'
 
+  py-cython:
+    require:
+    - one_of: ['@0.29.36', '@3.0.8']
+    prefer: ['@3.0.8']
+
   py-numpy:
     prefer: ['@1.26.4']
 
+  py-pandas:
+    prefer: ['@2.2.1']
+
   py-tensorflow:
     require: ['+mpi', '+mkl']
 
@@ -194,11 +205,6 @@ packages:
     - spec: 'egl@21.3.4'
       prefix: /usr
 
-  meson:
-    externals:
-    - spec: 'meson@0.58.2'
-      prefix: /usr
-
   ninja:
     buildable: false
     externals: