diff --git a/playbooks/python/pre.yaml b/playbooks/python/pre.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..280b297b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playbooks/python/pre.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+- hosts: all
+  roles:
+    - ensure-pip
diff --git a/zuul.d/python-jobs.yaml b/zuul.d/python-jobs.yaml
index d78b0e926..db4cc61d4 100644
--- a/zuul.d/python-jobs.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/python-jobs.yaml
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@
     name: build-python-release
     description: |
       Build a source tarball and a bdist wheel for uploading.
+    pre-run: playbooks/python/pre.yaml
     run: playbooks/python/release.yaml
     post-run: playbooks/python/tarball-post.yaml