diff --git a/pbr/packaging.py b/pbr/packaging.py
index f6cd1b38..66c988c7 100644
--- a/pbr/packaging.py
+++ b/pbr/packaging.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def _pip_install(links, requires, root=None):
     if root:
         root_cmd = "--root=%s" % root
     _run_shell_command(
-        "%s -m pip install %s %s %s" % (
+        "%s -m pip.__init__ install %s %s %s" % (
             sys.executable,
             root_cmd,
             " ".join(links),