diff --git a/pyctdev/_conda.py b/pyctdev/_conda.py
index 42e9f0d..48ec7b0 100644
--- a/pyctdev/_conda.py
+++ b/pyctdev/_conda.py
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@
 
 # TODO: not sure what conda-using developers do/prefer...
 # pip develop and don't install missing deps
-# python_develop = "pip install --no-deps -e ."
+python_develop = "pip install --no-deps -e ."
 # pip develop and pip install missing deps
 #  python_develop = "pip install -e ."
 # setuptools develop and don't install missing deps
-python_develop = "python setup.py develop --no-deps"
+# python_develop = "python setup.py develop --no-deps"
 # setuptools develop and easy_install missing deps:
 #  python_develop = "python setup.py develop"
 
diff --git a/pyctdev/_pip.py b/pyctdev/_pip.py
index 3b571eb..a978fe2 100644
--- a/pyctdev/_pip.py
+++ b/pyctdev/_pip.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 }
 
 def _pip_install_with_options(options,channel):
-    cmd = "pip install --upgrade " 
+    cmd = "pip install --upgrade "
 
     if 'testpypi' in channel:
         # note: should pre always be used maybe? Or more likely,
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def _pip_install_with_options(options,channel):
     cmd += " ".join(['--extra-index-url=%s '%server for server in servers[1::]])
 
     cmd += "-e ."
-    
+
     if len(options)>0:
         cmd+="[%s]"%(",".join(options))
     return cmd
@@ -77,11 +77,9 @@ def task_env_capture():
 def task_ecosystem_setup():
     """Common pip setup
 
-    Updates to latest pip, tox, twine, and wheel.
+    Updates to latest tox, twine, and wheel.
     """
-    # TODO: will need to become something like the following w/ pip10
-    # d:\python36\python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip tox twine wheel
-    return {'actions': ["pip install --upgrade pip tox twine wheel"]}
+    return {'actions': ["pip install --upgrade tox twine wheel"]}
 
 
 ########## PACKAGING ##########
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ def task_package_build():
     """Build pip package, then install and test all_quick (or other
     specified env) in venv
 
-    E.g. 
+    E.g.
 
     ``doit package_build --formats=bdist_wheel``
     ``doit package_build -e all_quick-Ewith_numpy``
@@ -121,7 +119,7 @@ def task_package_build():
         'default':'sdist --formats=gztar bdist_wheel --universal'
     }
     # TODO: missing support for pypi channels
-    
+
     def thing(test_group,test_python,test_requires,pkg_tests,sdist=False):
         if pkg_tests:
             enviros = []
@@ -149,7 +147,7 @@ def sdist(test_group,test_python,test_requires,pkg_tests,formats,sdist_run_tests
                 return echo("not running sdist tests")
         else:
             return echo("no sdist")
-        
+
     def sdist_build_deps(formats,sdist_install_build_deps):
         if 'sdist' in formats:
             if not sdist_install_build_deps:
@@ -167,7 +165,7 @@ def sdist_build_deps(formats,sdist_install_build_deps):
 
 
     # TODO: would be able to use the packages created by tox if
-    # https://github.com/tox-dev/tox/issues/232 were done    
+    # https://github.com/tox-dev/tox/issues/232 were done
     return {'actions': [CmdAction(wheel),
                         CmdAction(sdist_build_deps),
                         CmdAction(sdist),
@@ -200,7 +198,7 @@ def task_package_upload():
         'type':str,
         'default':''
     }
-    
+
     pypi = {
         'name':'pypi',
         'long':'pypi',
@@ -237,15 +235,15 @@ def task_env_create():
 
 def task_develop_install():
     """python develop install with specified optional groups of dependencies.
-    
-    Typically ``pip install -e .[tests]``. 
+
+    Typically ``pip install -e .[tests]``.
 
     Pass --options multiple times to specify other optional groups
     (see project's setup.py for available options).
 
     Pass --channel multiple times to specify other pypi servers.
 
-    E.g. 
+    E.g.
 
     ``doit develop_install -o examples -o tests``
     ``doit develop_install -o all``
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index aba3c1e..f4b6223 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@
 
         # Pretty much part of every python distribution now anyway.
         # Use it e.g. to be able to read pyproject.toml
-        'pip >=10'
+        # pinning to avoid https://github.com/pyviz/pyctdev/issues/12
+        'pip ==19.0.3'
     ],
     extras_require={
         'tests': ['flake8'],