diff --git a/tools/install_pip.sh b/tools/install_pip.sh
index 7b42c8c485..41261800e4 100755
--- a/tools/install_pip.sh
+++ b/tools/install_pip.sh
@@ -53,8 +53,15 @@ function install_get_pip {
     # since and only download if a new version is out -- but only if
     # it seems we downloaded the file originally.
     if [[ ! -r $LOCAL_PIP || -r $LOCAL_PIP.downloaded ]]; then
+        # only test freshness if LOCAL_PIP is actually there,
+        # otherwise we generate a scary warning.
+        local timecond=""
+        if [[ -r $LOCAL_PIP ]]; then
+            timecond="-z $LOCAL_PIP"
+        fi
+
         curl --retry 6 --retry-delay 5 \
-            -z $LOCAL_PIP -o $LOCAL_PIP $PIP_GET_PIP_URL || \
+            $timecond -o $LOCAL_PIP $PIP_GET_PIP_URL || \
             die $LINENO "Download of get-pip.py failed"
         touch $LOCAL_PIP.downloaded
     fi