diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 0f79751a..e0f470f0 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -46,15 +46,7 @@ magnum_api_paste_ini_overrides: {}
 
 # Name of the virtual env to deploy into
 magnum_venv_tag: untagged
-magnum_venv_bin: "/openstack/venvs/magnum-{{ magnum_venv_tag }}/bin"
-
-# Set this to enable or disable installing in a venv
-magnum_venv_enabled: true
-
-# The bin path defaults to the venv path however if installation in a
-#  venv is disabled the bin path will be dynamically set based on the
-#  system path used when the installing.
-magnum_bin: "{{ magnum_venv_bin }}"
+magnum_bin: "/openstack/venvs/magnum-{{ magnum_venv_tag }}/bin"
 
 magnum_venv_download_url: http://127.0.0.1/venvs/untagged/ubuntu/magnum.tgz
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/os_magnum-install-venv-30263e29e51a2610.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/os_magnum-install-venv-30263e29e51a2610.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba2f0216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/os_magnum-install-venv-30263e29e51a2610.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - Installation of magnum and its dependent pip packages will now only
+    occur within a Python virtual environment. The ``magnum_venv_bin``,
+    ``magnum_venv_enabled`` variables have been removed.
diff --git a/tasks/database-setup.yml b/tasks/database-setup.yml
index 2dc62808..f1eb30ba 100644
--- a/tasks/database-setup.yml
+++ b/tasks/database-setup.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 - name: Perform a synchronization of the Magnum database
-  command: "{{ magnum_venv_bin}}/magnum-db-manage upgrade"
+  command: "{{ magnum_bin}}/magnum-db-manage upgrade"
   become: yes
   become_user: "{{ magnum_system_user_name }}"
   tags:
diff --git a/tasks/install.yml b/tasks/install.yml
index 356a33ee..eb8a235e 100644
--- a/tasks/install.yml
+++ b/tasks/install.yml
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@
     get_md5: False
   when:
     - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
   register: local_venv_stat
   tags:
     - magnum-install
@@ -96,7 +95,6 @@
     return_content: True
   when:
     - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
   register: remote_venv_checksum
   tags:
     - magnum-install
@@ -116,7 +114,6 @@
   register: get_venv
   when:
     - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
     - (local_venv_stat.stat.exists == False or
         {{ local_venv_stat.stat.checksum is defined and local_venv_stat.stat.checksum != remote_venv_checksum.content | trim }})
   tags:
@@ -126,17 +123,15 @@
 - name: Set magnum get_venv fact
   set_fact:
     magnum_get_venv: "{{ get_venv }}"
-  when: magnum_venv_enabled | bool
   tags:
     - magnum-install
     - magnum-pip-packages
 
 - name: Remove existing venv
   file:
-    path: "{{ magnum_venv_bin | dirname }}"
+    path: "{{ magnum_bin | dirname }}"
     state: absent
   when:
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
     - magnum_get_venv | changed
   tags:
     - magnum-install
@@ -144,12 +139,9 @@
 
 - name: Create magnum venv dir
   file:
-    path: "{{ magnum_venv_bin | dirname }}"
+    path: "{{ magnum_bin | dirname }}"
     state: directory
-  when:
-    - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
-    - magnum_get_venv | changed
+  register: magnum_venv_dir
   tags:
     - magnum-install
     - magnum-pip-packages
@@ -157,33 +149,21 @@
 - name: Unarchive pre-built venv
   unarchive:
     src: "/var/cache/{{ magnum_venv_download_url | basename }}"
-    dest: "{{ magnum_venv_bin | dirname }}"
+    dest: "{{ magnum_bin | dirname }}"
     copy: "no"
   when:
     - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
-    - magnum_get_venv | changed
+    - magnum_get_venv | changed or magnum_venv_dir | changed
   notify: Restart magnum services
   tags:
     - magnum-install
     - magnum-pip-packages
 
-- name: Update virtualenv path
-  command: >
-    virtualenv-tools --update-path=auto {{ magnum_venv_bin | dirname }}
-  when:
-    - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
-    - magnum_get_venv | success
-  tags:
-    - magnum-install
-    - magnum-pip-packages
-
-- name: Install pip packages (venv)
+- name: Install pip packages
   pip:
     name: "{{ item }}"
     state: latest
-    virtualenv: "{{ magnum_venv_bin | dirname }}"
+    virtualenv: "{{ magnum_bin | dirname }}"
     virtualenv_site_packages: "no"
     extra_args: "{{ pip_install_options_fact }}"
   register: install_packages
@@ -192,27 +172,19 @@
   delay: 2
   with_items: "{{ magnum_pip_packages }}"
   when:
-    - magnum_venv_enabled | bool
     - magnum_get_venv | failed or magnum_developer_mode | bool
   notify: Restart magnum services
   tags:
     - magnum-install
     - magnum-pip-packages
 
-- name: Install pip packages (no venv)
-  pip:
-    name: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
-    extra_args: "{{ pip_install_options_fact }}"
-  register: install_packages
-  until: install_packages|success
-  retries: 5
-  delay: 2
-  with_items: "{{ magnum_pip_packages }}"
+- name: Update virtualenv path
+  command: >
+    virtualenv-tools --update-path=auto {{ magnum_bin | dirname }}
   when:
     - not magnum_developer_mode | bool
-    - not magnum_venv_enabled | bool
-  notify: Restart magnum services
+    - magnum_get_venv | success
   tags:
     - magnum-install
     - magnum-pip-packages
+
diff --git a/templates/upstart-init.j2 b/templates/upstart-init.j2
index a310d56a..d8347a8f 100644
--- a/templates/upstart-init.j2
+++ b/templates/upstart-init.j2
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ pre-start script
   mkdir -p "/var/lock/{{ program_name }}"
   chown {{ system_user }}:{{ system_group }} "/var/lock/{{ program_name }}"
 
-  {% if magnum_venv_enabled | bool -%}
-  . {{ magnum_venv_bin }}/activate
-  {%- endif %}
+  . {{ magnum_bin }}/activate
 
 end script