diff --git a/acceptance/tests/validate_vendored_ruby.rb b/acceptance/tests/validate_vendored_ruby.rb
index 07c75ebeac..e9ea52b658 100644
--- a/acceptance/tests/validate_vendored_ruby.rb
+++ b/acceptance/tests/validate_vendored_ruby.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ def setup_build_environment(agent)
   # We add `--enable-system-libraries` to use system libsqlite3
   gem_install_sqlite3 = "env GEM_HOME=/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/lib/ruby/vendor_gems " + gem_command(agent) + " install sqlite3 -- --enable-system-libraries"
   install_package_on_agent = package_installer(agent)
-  on(agent, "#{gem_command(agent)} update --system")
+  rubygems_version = agent['platform'] =~ /aix-7\.2/ ? '3.4.22' : ''
+  on(agent, "#{gem_command(agent)} update --system #{rubygems_version}")
 
   case agent['platform']
   when /aix/
@@ -155,7 +156,8 @@ def install_dependencies(agent)
     agents_to_skip = select_hosts({:platform => [/windows/, /cisco/, /eos/, /cumulus/]}, agents)
     agents_to_test = agents - agents_to_skip
     agents_to_test.each do |agent|
-      on(agent, "/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/bin/gem update --system")
+      rubygems_version = agent['platform'] =~ /aix-7\.2/ ? '3.4.22' : ''
+      on(agent, "/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/bin/gem update --system #{rubygems_version}")
       list_env = on(agent, "/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/bin/gem env").stdout.chomp
       unless list_env.include?("/opt/puppetlabs/puppet/lib/ruby/vendor_gems")
         fail_test("Failed to keep vendor_gems directory in GEM_PATH!")