diff --git a/conda_smithy/linter/hints.py b/conda_smithy/linter/hints.py
index a2c217904..d2f45a721 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/linter/hints.py
+++ b/conda_smithy/linter/hints.py
@@ -254,12 +254,13 @@ def hint_noarch_python_use_python_min(
                 syntax = syntax.replace(
                     "{{ python_min }}", "${{ python_min }}"
                 )
+            test_syntax = syntax.replace("{{ python_min }}", "9999")
 
             for req in reqs:
                 if (
                     req.strip().split()[0] == "python"
                     and req != "python"
-                    and syntax in req
+                    and test_syntax in req
                 ):
                     break
             else:
diff --git a/conda_smithy/utils.py b/conda_smithy/utils.py
index 4d94461c5..c4f58369b 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/utils.py
+++ b/conda_smithy/utils.py
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ def render_meta_yaml(text):
             target_platform="linux-64",
             build_platform="linux-64",
             mpi="mpi",
+            python_min="9999",  # use as a sentinel value for linting
         )
     )
     mockos = MockOS()
diff --git a/tests/test_lint_recipe.py b/tests/test_lint_recipe.py
index 178c7ab6e..42c009f3b 100644
--- a/tests/test_lint_recipe.py
+++ b/tests/test_lint_recipe.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 import conda_smithy.lint_recipe as linter
 from conda_smithy.linter.utils import VALID_PYTHON_BUILD_BACKENDS
-from conda_smithy.utils import get_yaml
+from conda_smithy.utils import get_yaml, render_meta_yaml
 
 _thisdir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
@@ -3163,7 +3163,7 @@ def test_hint_noarch_python_use_python_min(
     meta_str,
     expected_hints,
 ):
-    meta = get_yaml().load(meta_str)
+    meta = get_yaml().load(render_meta_yaml(meta_str))
     lints = []
     hints = []
     linter.run_conda_forge_specific(
@@ -3250,7 +3250,7 @@ def test_hint_noarch_python_use_python_min_v1(
     meta_str,
     expected_hints,
 ):
-    meta = get_yaml().load(meta_str)
+    meta = get_yaml().load(render_meta_yaml(meta_str.replace("${{", "{{")))
     lints = []
     hints = []
     linter.run_conda_forge_specific(