diff --git a/playbooks/pre.yaml b/playbooks/pre.yaml
index 4689a6354f..175888cbdd 100644
--- a/playbooks/pre.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/pre.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
       set_fact:
         external_bridge_mtu: "{{ local_mtu | int - 50 }}"
   roles:
+    - ensure-virtualenv
     - test-matrix
     - configure-swap
     - setup-stack-user