diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare_test_data.yaml b/.github/workflows/prepare_test_data.yaml
index 77f984fc..bf979d96 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prepare_test_data.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare_test_data.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 name: Prepare test data
 
 on:
+    schedule:
+        - cron: "0 0 1 * *" # run once a month to prevent artifact expiration
     workflow_dispatch:
 # uncomment and adjust the branch name if you need to add new datasets to the artifact
 #    push:
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
                   done
 
             - name: Upload artifacts
-              uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+              uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
               with:
                   name: data
                   path: ./data
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index 8546b3d7..c4d08869 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
               run: |
                   echo "::set-output name=dir::$(pip cache dir)"
             - name: Restore pip cache
-              uses: actions/cache@v2
+              uses: actions/cache@v3
               with:
                   path: ${{ steps.pip-cache-dir.outputs.dir }}
                   key: pip-${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('**/pyproject.toml') }}
@@ -53,18 +53,12 @@ jobs:
 
             - name: Download artifact of test data
               if: matrix.python == '3.12'
-              uses: dawidd6/action-download-artifact@v2
+              uses: dawidd6/action-download-artifact@v9
               with:
                   workflow: prepare_test_data.yaml
                   name: data
                   path: ./data
 
-            - name: List the data directory
-              if: matrix.python == '3.12'
-              run: |
-                  ls -l ./data
-                  pwd
-
             - name: Test
               env:
                   MPLBACKEND: agg
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 02213221..f598404d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ Marconato, L., Palla, G., Yamauchi, K.A. et al. SpatialData: an open and univers
 [link-docs]: https://spatialdata.scverse.org/projects/io/en/latest/
 [link-api]: https://spatialdata.scverse.org/projects/io/en/latest/api.html
 [link-cli]: https://spatialdata.scverse.org/projects/io/en/latest/cli.html
-
-[//]: # (numfocus-fiscal-sponsor-attribution)
+[//]: # "numfocus-fiscal-sponsor-attribution"
 
 spatialdata-io is part of the scverse® project ([website](https://scverse.org), [governance](https://scverse.org/about/roles)) and is fiscally sponsored by [NumFOCUS](https://numfocus.org/).
 If you like scverse® and want to support our mission, please consider making a tax-deductible [donation](https://numfocus.org/donate-to-scverse) to help the project pay for developer time, professional services, travel, workshops, and a variety of other needs.
diff --git a/tests/test_generic.py b/tests/test_generic.py
index d4dda1a7..466b7a3f 100644
--- a/tests/test_generic.py
+++ b/tests/test_generic.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def test_cli_read_generic_image_invalid_data_axes(runner: CliRunner) -> None:
             ],
         )
         assert result.exit_code != 0, result.output
-        assert "'invalid_axes' is not one of 'cyx', 'czyx'." in result.output
+        assert "data_axes must be a permutation of 'cyx' or 'czyx'." in result.exc_info[1].args[0]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("cli", [True, False])