diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_with_conda.yml b/.github/workflows/build_with_conda.yml
index 90935f91ad..a32adeb9e4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_with_conda.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_with_conda.yml
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ jobs:
         env:
           ARCTICDB_USING_CONDA: 1
           ARCTICDB_BUILD_CPP_TESTS: 1
-          ARCTICDB_PROTOC_VERS: "4"
 
       - name: Build C++ Tests
         shell: bash -l {0}
@@ -143,7 +142,6 @@ jobs:
         env:
           ARCTICDB_USING_CONDA: 1
           ARCTICDB_BUILD_CPP_TESTS: 1
-          ARCTICDB_PROTOC_VERS: "4"
 
       - name: Build C++ Tests
         shell: bash -l {0}
diff --git a/cpp/arcticdb/CMakeLists.txt b/cpp/arcticdb/CMakeLists.txt
index d4df81e05e..f7ca660960 100644
--- a/cpp/arcticdb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/cpp/arcticdb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ if(NOT WIN32 AND ${SSL_LINK})
     find_package(Kerberos REQUIRED)
 endif()
 
-find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED)
+# Required to allow protobuf to use the correct version of absl:
+# https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/issues/12292#issuecomment-1529680040
+find_package(protobuf REQUIRED CONFIG)
 find_package(mongocxx REQUIRED)
 find_package(bsoncxx REQUIRED)
 find_package(xxHash REQUIRED)