diff --git a/bob/devtools/build.py b/bob/devtools/build.py
index 167407341746fae9a30b45b0732be12183f66eca..172806ac61cabe333845b62ff13d0a18294e8fd0 100644
--- a/bob/devtools/build.py
+++ b/bob/devtools/build.py
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ def parse_dependencies(recipe_dir, config):
         + remove_pins(recipe["requirements"].get("host", []))
         + recipe["requirements"].get("run", [])
         + recipe.get("test", {}).get("requires", [])
+        + ["pip"]  # required for installing further packages
         + ["bob.buildout"]  # required for basic bootstrap of most recipes
         + ["ipython"]  # for ipdb
         # Also add anaconda compilers to make sure source installed packages are