diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 6eae6e4b..50f7d7b1 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ matrix:
         sources: ['ubuntu-toolchain-r-test']
         packages: ['g++-4.9', 'ninja-build']
     before_script:
+      - pip install --upgrade pip
       - pip install --user urllib3[secure]
       - pip install --user cpp-coveralls
     after_success: