diff --git a/src/art/skypilot/backend.py b/src/art/skypilot/backend.py
index 4bffd824..8d910e7d 100644
--- a/src/art/skypilot/backend.py
+++ b/src/art/skypilot/backend.py
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ async def _launch_cluster(
 
         if art_version_is_semver:
             art_installation_command = (
-                f"uv pip install openpipe-art[backend]=={art_version}"
+                f"uv pip install --system openpipe-art[backend]=={art_version}"
             )
         elif os.path.exists(art_version):
             # copy the contents of the art_path onto the new machine