diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 06498b7c..3f892fba 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ jobs:
             apt-get install -y python3-venv python3-dev
             python3 -m venv local3
             . local3/bin/activate
+            pip install -U pip
             pip install cython  # avoids grpcio install bug (search _needs_stub)
             pip install -U -r requirements.txt
             pip install coverage coveralls