diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1665433..138ec00 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ jobs:
         with:
           shared-dirs: ./
           renode-run: |
-            pip install -U pip setuptools
+            python -m venv .venv
+            source .venv/bin/activate
             pip install .
             protoplaster -t tests/basic.yml
           devices: |