diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 48ae0fc05ab..e08127045d0 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -552,16 +552,16 @@ if test -n "$linux_arch" && ! test -d "$source_path/linux-headers/asm-$linux_arc
 fi
 
 check_py_version() {
-    # We require python >= 3.7.
+    # We require python >= 3.8.
     # NB: a True python conditional creates a non-zero return code (Failure)
-    "$1" -c 'import sys; sys.exit(sys.version_info < (3,7))'
+    "$1" -c 'import sys; sys.exit(sys.version_info < (3,8))'
 }
 
 first_python=
 if test -z "${PYTHON}"; then
     # A bare 'python' is traditionally python 2.x, but some distros
     # have it as python 3.x, so check in both places.
-    for binary in python3 python python3.11 python3.10 python3.9 python3.8 python3.7; do
+    for binary in python3 python python3.11 python3.10 python3.9 python3.8; do
         if has "$binary"; then
             python=$(command -v "$binary")
             if check_py_version "$python"; then
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ then
 fi
 
 if ! check_py_version "$python"; then
-  error_exit "Cannot use '$python', Python >= 3.7 is required." \
+  error_exit "Cannot use '$python', Python >= 3.8 is required." \
              "Use --python=/path/to/python to specify a supported Python." \
              "Maybe try:" \
              "  openSUSE Leap 15.3+: zypper install python39" \
diff --git a/python/Makefile b/python/Makefile
index 7c70dcc8d14..1fa4ba2498e 100644
--- a/python/Makefile
+++ b/python/Makefile
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ help:
 	@echo "make check-minreqs:"
 	@echo "    Run tests in the minreqs virtual environment."
 	@echo "    These tests use the oldest dependencies."
-	@echo "    Requires: Python 3.7"
-	@echo "    Hint (Fedora): 'sudo dnf install python3.7'"
+	@echo "    Requires: Python 3.8"
+	@echo "    Hint (Fedora): 'sudo dnf install python3.8'"
 	@echo ""
 	@echo "make check-tox:"
 	@echo "    Run tests against multiple python versions."
 	@echo "    These tests use the newest dependencies."
-	@echo "    Requires: Python 3.7 - 3.11, and tox."
+	@echo "    Requires: Python 3.8 - 3.11, and tox."
 	@echo "    Hint (Fedora): 'sudo dnf install python3-tox python3.11'"
 	@echo "    The variable QEMU_TOX_EXTRA_ARGS can be use to pass extra"
 	@echo "    arguments to tox".
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ PIP_INSTALL = pip install --disable-pip-version-check
 min-venv: $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR) $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate
 $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR) $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate: setup.cfg tests/minreqs.txt
 	@echo "VENV $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)"
-	@python3.7 -m venv $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)
+	@python3.8 -m venv $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)
 	@(								\
 		echo "ACTIVATE $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)";			\
 		. $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate;			\
diff --git a/python/scripts/mkvenv.py b/python/scripts/mkvenv.py
index 4f2349fbb65..57a24948031 100644
--- a/python/scripts/mkvenv.py
+++ b/python/scripts/mkvenv.py
@@ -435,6 +435,7 @@ def _gen_importlib(packages: Sequence[str]) -> Iterator[str]:
     try:
         # First preference: Python 3.8+ stdlib
         from importlib.metadata import (  # type: ignore
+            EntryPoint,
             PackageNotFoundError,
             distribution,
         )
@@ -442,6 +443,7 @@ def _gen_importlib(packages: Sequence[str]) -> Iterator[str]:
         logger.debug("%s", str(exc))
         # Second preference: Commonly available PyPI backport
         from importlib_metadata import (  # type: ignore
+            EntryPoint,
             PackageNotFoundError,
             distribution,
         )
@@ -449,7 +451,8 @@ def _gen_importlib(packages: Sequence[str]) -> Iterator[str]:
     def _generator() -> Iterator[str]:
         for package in packages:
             try:
-                entry_points = distribution(package).entry_points
+                entry_points: Iterator[EntryPoint] = \
+                    iter(distribution(package).entry_points)
             except PackageNotFoundError:
                 continue
 
diff --git a/python/setup.cfg b/python/setup.cfg
index e74b58a8c24..f6d2d8a1362 100644
--- a/python/setup.cfg
+++ b/python/setup.cfg
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ classifiers =
     Natural Language :: English
     Operating System :: OS Independent
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only
-    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
     Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ classifiers =
     Typing :: Typed
 
 [options]
-python_requires = >= 3.7
+python_requires = >= 3.8
 packages =
     qemu.qmp
     qemu.machine
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ exclude = __pycache__,
 
 [mypy]
 strict = True
-python_version = 3.7
+python_version = 3.8
 warn_unused_configs = True
 namespace_packages = True
 warn_unused_ignores = False
@@ -192,7 +191,7 @@ multi_line_output=3
 # of python available on your system to run this test.
 
 [tox:tox]
-envlist = py37, py38, py39, py310, py311
+envlist = py38, py39, py310, py311
 skip_missing_interpreters = true
 
 [testenv]
diff --git a/python/tests/minreqs.txt b/python/tests/minreqs.txt
index 979461be6bb..a3f423efd84 100644
--- a/python/tests/minreqs.txt
+++ b/python/tests/minreqs.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # This file lists the ***oldest possible dependencies*** needed to run
-# "make check" successfully under ***Python 3.7***. It is used primarily
+# "make check" successfully under ***Python 3.8***. It is used primarily
 # by GitLab CI to ensure that our stated minimum versions in setup.cfg
 # are truthful and regularly validated.
 #
diff --git a/scripts/qapi/mypy.ini b/scripts/qapi/mypy.ini
index 3463307ddc7..56e0dfb1327 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/mypy.ini
+++ b/scripts/qapi/mypy.ini
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [mypy]
 strict = True
 disallow_untyped_calls = False
-python_version = 3.7
+python_version = 3.8
 
 [mypy-qapi.schema]
 disallow_untyped_defs = False
