diff --git a/scripts/run-local-test b/scripts/run-local-test
index 6f7a49d5f..aa03e85c9 100755
--- a/scripts/run-local-test
+++ b/scripts/run-local-test
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ esac
 "${PYTHON_EXEC}" -m virtualenv --system-site-packages "${HOME}/test-python"
 
 # Run bindep
-"${HOME}/test-python/bin/pip" install pip setuptools bindep --upgrade
+"${HOME}/test-python/bin/pip" install "pip>=19.1.1" setuptools bindep --upgrade
 "${PROJECT_DIR}/scripts/bindep-install"
 
 # Install local requirements
diff --git a/zuul.d/playbooks/pre.yml b/zuul.d/playbooks/pre.yml
index 92c21c72a..41bf17793 100644
--- a/zuul.d/playbooks/pre.yml
+++ b/zuul.d/playbooks/pre.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@
       become: true
       changed_when: false
 
+    - name: Ensure a recent version of pip is installed in virtualenv
+      pip:
+        name: "pip>=19.1.1"
+        virtualenv: "{{ ansible_user_dir }}/test-python"
+        virtualenv_command: "{{ ensure_pip_virtualenv_command }}"
+
     - name: Setup test-python
       pip:
         requirements: "{{ ansible_user_dir }}/{{ zuul.project.src_dir }}/molecule-requirements.txt"