diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 8f48440..1b5a670 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ pip_source_install_options: ""
 
 # This list var can be used to specify specific versions of pip, setuptools,
 # wheel and any other packages which must be installed when pip installs.
-pip_packages: []
+pip_packages:
+  - pip
 
 pip_required_pip_packages:
   - pyOpenSSL # SSL SNI support