diff --git a/R/data.R b/R/data.R
index 5003c0c77..b7d44165f 100644
--- a/R/data.R
+++ b/R/data.R
@@ -44,11 +44,13 @@ use_data <- function(...,
 
   objs <- get_objs_from_dots(dots(...))
 
-  if (version < 3) {
-    use_dependency("R", "depends", "2.10")
-  } else {
-    use_dependency("R", "depends", "3.5")
+  original_minimum_r_version <- pkg_minimum_r_version()
+  serialization_minimum_r_version <- if (version < 3) "2.10" else "3.5"
+  if (is.na(original_minimum_r_version) ||
+      original_minimum_r_version < serialization_minimum_r_version) {
+        use_dependency("R", "depends", serialization_minimum_r_version)
   }
+
   if (internal) {
     use_directory("R")
     paths <- path("R", "sysdata.rda")
diff --git a/R/release.R b/R/release.R
index 1748b3544..6f2196245 100644
--- a/R/release.R
+++ b/R/release.R
@@ -534,10 +534,11 @@ author_has_rstudio_email <- function() {
 pkg_minimum_r_version <- function() {
   deps <- proj_desc()$get_deps()
   r_dep <- deps[deps$package == "R" & deps$type == "Depends", "version"]
-  if (length(r_dep) == 0) {
-    return(numeric_version("0"))
+  if (length(r_dep) > 0) {
+    numeric_version(gsub("[^0-9.]", "", r_dep))
+  } else {
+    NA_character_
   }
-  numeric_version(gsub("[^0-9.]", "", r_dep))
 }
 
 # Borrowed from pak, but modified also retain user's non-cran repos:
diff --git a/R/upkeep.R b/R/upkeep.R
index 84f88657a..6f93573c7 100644
--- a/R/upkeep.R
+++ b/R/upkeep.R
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ tidy_upkeep_checklist <- function(last_upkeep = last_upkeep_year(),
     )
   }
 
+  minimum_r_version <- pkg_minimum_r_version()
   bullets <- c(
     bullets,
     "### To finish",
@@ -250,7 +251,7 @@ tidy_upkeep_checklist <- function(last_upkeep = last_upkeep_year(),
     todo("`usethis::use_mit_license()`", grepl("MIT", desc$get_field("License"))),
     todo(
       '`usethis::use_package("R", "Depends", "{tidy_minimum_r_version()}")`',
-      tidy_minimum_r_version() > pkg_minimum_r_version()
+      is.na(minimum_r_version) || tidy_minimum_r_version() > minimum_r_version
     ),
     todo("`usethis::use_tidy_description()`"),
     todo("`usethis::use_tidy_github_actions()`"),
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-data.R b/tests/testthat/test-data.R
index f2f893aee..9edde202e 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-data.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-data.R
@@ -95,3 +95,14 @@ test_that("use_data_raw() does setup", {
 
   expect_true(is_build_ignored("^data-raw$"))
 })
+
+test_that("use_data() does not decrease minimum version of R itself", {
+  create_local_package()
+
+  use_package("R", "depends", "4.1")
+  original_minimum_r_version <- pkg_minimum_r_version()
+
+  use_data(letters)
+
+  expect_true(pkg_minimum_r_version() >= original_minimum_r_version)
+})