diff --git a/doc-requirements.txt b/doc-requirements.txt
index f6f542fc9c92..ab02ef836143 100644
--- a/doc-requirements.txt
+++ b/doc-requirements.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ colorspacious
 ipython
 ipywidgets
 numpydoc>=0.8
-pillow>=3.4
+pillow>=3.4,<5.4
 sphinx-gallery>=0.2
 sphinx-copybutton