diff --git a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-bindep b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-bindep
index 67a86dc2d9..760acd2e9d 100755
--- a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-bindep
+++ b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-bindep
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@ fi
 set -e
 
 python3 -m venv /usr/bindep-env
+# We do this first to ensure working setuptools is present when bindep
+# is installed.
+/usr/bindep-env/bin/pip install -U 'setuptools<50'
 /usr/bindep-env/bin/pip install bindep
diff --git a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-tox b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-tox
index d5c3b09d92..5977a66e13 100755
--- a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-tox
+++ b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/install.d/40-install-tox
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@ fi
 set -e
 
 python3 -m venv /usr/tox-env
+# We do this first to ensure working setuptools is present when tox
+# is installed.
+/usr/tox-env/bin/pip install -U 'setuptools<50'
 /usr/tox-env/bin/pip install tox
diff --git a/nodepool/elements/nodepool-base/install.d/91-venv-os-testr b/nodepool/elements/nodepool-base/install.d/91-venv-os-testr
index ea96003c98..b2a2344eb9 100755
--- a/nodepool/elements/nodepool-base/install.d/91-venv-os-testr
+++ b/nodepool/elements/nodepool-base/install.d/91-venv-os-testr
@@ -19,4 +19,7 @@ fi
 set -e
 
 python3 -m venv /usr/os-testr-env
+# We do this first to ensure working setuptools is present when os-testr
+# is installed.
+/usr/os-testr-env/bin/pip install -U 'setuptools<50'
 /usr/os-testr-env/bin/pip install os-testr