diff --git a/python/Makefile b/python/Makefile
index c5bd6ff83a..47560657d2 100644
--- a/python/Makefile
+++ b/python/Makefile
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ pipenv check-pipenv:
 	@echo "pipenv was dropped; try 'make check-minreqs' or 'make min-venv'"
 	@exit 1
 
+PIP_INSTALL = pip install --disable-pip-version-check
 .PHONY: min-venv
 min-venv: $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR) $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate
 $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR) $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate: setup.cfg tests/minreqs.txt
@@ -62,10 +63,12 @@ $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR) $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate: setup.cfg tests/minreqs.tx
 	@(								\
 		echo "ACTIVATE $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)";			\
 		. $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)/bin/activate;			\
+		echo "INSTALL wheel $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)";               \
+		$(PIP_INSTALL) wheel 1>/dev/null;		               \
 		echo "INSTALL -r tests/minreqs.txt $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)";\
-		pip install -r tests/minreqs.txt 1>/dev/null;		\
+		$(PIP_INSTALL) -r tests/minreqs.txt 1>/dev/null;	\
 		echo "INSTALL -e qemu $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)";		\
-		pip install -e . 1>/dev/null;				\
+		$(PIP_INSTALL) -e . 1>/dev/null;			\
 	)
 	@touch $(QEMU_MINVENV_DIR)
 
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ check-dev: dev-venv
 
 .PHONY: develop
 develop:
-	pip3 install --disable-pip-version-check -e .[devel]
+	$(PIP_INSTALL) -e .[devel]
 
 .PHONY: check
 check: