diff --git a/cassandra_nodetool/tests/compose/config/Dockerfile b/cassandra_nodetool/tests/compose/config/Dockerfile
index 95cf03814d829..1c1a5cda2372b 100644
--- a/cassandra_nodetool/tests/compose/config/Dockerfile
+++ b/cassandra_nodetool/tests/compose/config/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ARG CASSANDRA_VERSION
+ARG CASSANDRA_VERSION=2.1.14
 FROM cassandra:${CASSANDRA_VERSION}
 COPY jmxremote.password /etc/cassandra/jmxremote.password
 RUN chown cassandra:cassandra /etc/cassandra/jmxremote.password
diff --git a/cassandra_nodetool/tests/conftest.py b/cassandra_nodetool/tests/conftest.py
index 445e4f2303b9a..98e544bcf74b5 100644
--- a/cassandra_nodetool/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/cassandra_nodetool/tests/conftest.py
@@ -36,6 +36,20 @@ def dd_environment():
     else:
         log_patterns = ['Starting listening for CQL clients', 'All sessions completed']
 
+    # Workaround for Docker 29.1.x issues with old images
+    # 1. Pre-pull base image with explicit platform to avoid multi-arch issues
+    subprocess.run(
+        ['docker', 'pull', '--platform', 'linux/amd64', f"cassandra:{env['CASSANDRA_VERSION']}"],
+        check=False,  # Don't fail if pull has issues, let build try
+        capture_output=True,
+    )
+
+    # 2. Disable BuildKit to use legacy builder (BuildKit has cache validation bug)
+    env['DOCKER_BUILDKIT'] = '0'
+
+    # 3. Force legacy builder to use specific platform
+    env['DOCKER_DEFAULT_PLATFORM'] = 'linux/amd64'
+
     with docker_run(
         compose_file,
         service_name=common.CASSANDRA_CONTAINER_NAME,