diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-python-requirements.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-python-requirements.yml
index aac5327fff..870ab69240 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-python-requirements.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-python-requirements.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   upgrade_requirements:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
 
     strategy:
       matrix:
@@ -56,3 +56,16 @@ jobs:
           --commit-message="chore: Updating Python Requirements" --pr-title="Python Requirements Update" \
           --pr-body="Python requirements update.Please review the [changelogs](https://openedx.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TE/pages/1001521320/Python+Package+Changelogs) for the upgraded packages." \
           --user-reviewers="" --team-reviewers="arbi-bom" --delete-old-pull-requests
+
+      - name: Send failure notification
+        if: ${{ failure() }}
+        uses: dawidd6/action-send-mail@v3
+        with:
+          server_address: email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
+          server_port: 465
+          username: ${{secrets.EDX_SMTP_USERNAME}}
+          password: ${{secrets.EDX_SMTP_PASSWORD}}
+          subject: Upgrade python requirements workflow failed in ${{github.repository}}
+          to: arbi-bom@edx.org
+          from: github-actions <github-actions@edx.org>
+          body: Upgrade python requirements workflow in ${{github.repository}} failed! For details see "github.com/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"