diff --git a/swh/storage/cassandra/cql.py b/swh/storage/cassandra/cql.py
--- a/swh/storage/cassandra/cql.py
+++ b/swh/storage/cassandra/cql.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     Union,
 )
 
-from cassandra import CoordinationFailure
+from cassandra import CoordinationFailure, ProtocolVersion
 from cassandra.cluster import EXEC_PROFILE_DEFAULT, Cluster, ExecutionProfile, ResultSet
 from cassandra.policies import DCAwareRoundRobinPolicy, TokenAwarePolicy
 from cassandra.query import BoundStatement, PreparedStatement, dict_factory
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# Get the maximum non beta protocol version supported by the driver:
+# 4 for cassandra-driver < 3.25.0, 5 otherwise
+_protocol_version = ProtocolVersion.get_lower_supported(previous_version=10)
 
 _execution_profiles = {
     EXEC_PROFILE_DEFAULT: ExecutionProfile(
@@ -91,7 +94,12 @@
 def create_keyspace(
     hosts: List[str], keyspace: str, port: int = 9042, *, durable_writes=True
 ):
-    cluster = Cluster(hosts, port=port, execution_profiles=_execution_profiles)
+    cluster = Cluster(
+        hosts,
+        port=port,
+        execution_profiles=_execution_profiles,
+        protocol_version=_protocol_version,
+    )
     session = cluster.connect()
     extra_params = ""
     if not durable_writes:
@@ -224,7 +232,10 @@
 
     def __init__(self, hosts: List[str], keyspace: str, port: int):
         self._cluster = Cluster(
-            hosts, port=port, execution_profiles=_execution_profiles
+            hosts,
+            port=port,
+            execution_profiles=_execution_profiles,
+            protocol_version=_protocol_version,
         )
         self._session = self._cluster.connect(keyspace)
         self._cluster.register_user_type(