diff --git a/docs/installation.rst b/docs/installation.rst
--- a/docs/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/installation.rst
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ repository, follow the instructions belo
         cd kallithea
         virtualenv ../kallithea-venv
         source ../kallithea-venv/bin/activate
+        pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
         python2 setup.py develop
         python2 setup.py compile_catalog   # for translation of the UI
 
@@ -64,9 +65,11 @@ An additional benefit of virtualenv_ is 
 
     virtualenv /srv/kallithea/venv
 
-- Activate the virtualenv_ in your current shell session by running::
+- Activate the virtualenv_ in your current shell session and make sure the
+  basic requirements are up-to-date by running::
 
     source /srv/kallithea/venv/bin/activate
+    pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
 
 .. note:: You can't use UNIX ``sudo`` to source the ``virtualenv`` script; it
    will "activate" a shell that terminates immediately. It is also perfectly