diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-flux.yaml b/.github/workflows/test-flux.yaml
index 09f8333c47..bf29b70362 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-flux.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-flux.yaml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
     name: ${{ matrix.container }}
     steps:
       - name: Make Space
-        run: |        
+        run: |
           rm -rf /usr/share/dotnet
           rm -rf /opt/ghc
 
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install Reframe
         run: |
+          apt-get update && apt-get install -y python3-venv
           /bin/bash ./bootstrap.sh
           export PATH=$PWD/bin:$PATH
           which reframe
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Start Flux and Run Test
         run: |
           export PATH=$PWD/bin:$PATH
-          which reframe   
+          which reframe
           flux start reframe -c tutorials/flux -C tutorials/flux/settings.py -l
           flux start reframe -c tutorials/flux -C tutorials/flux/settings.py --run
           flux start python3 ./test_reframe.py --rfm-user-config=tutorials/flux/settings.py -vvvv
diff --git a/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap.sh
index f87027d4a1..b18f7a0dd3 100755
--- a/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/bootstrap.sh
@@ -83,6 +83,17 @@ if $python -c 'import sys; sys.exit(sys.version_info[:2] >= (3, 6))'; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+venvdir=$(mktemp -d)
+CMD $python -m venv $venvdir
+CMD source $venvdir/bin/activate
+
+_shutdown_venv() {
+    deactivate
+    /bin/rm -rf $venvdir
+}
+
+trap _shutdown_venv EXIT
+
 # Disable the user installation scheme which is the default for Debian and
 # cannot be combined with `--target`
 export PIP_USER=0
diff --git a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod-base.dockerfile b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod-base.dockerfile
index 6ead08e747..ab5d5617af 100644
--- a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod-base.dockerfile
+++ b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod-base.dockerfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ RUN \
   apt-get -y update && \
   apt-get -y install ca-certificates && \
   update-ca-certificates && \
-  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip
+  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip python3-venv
 
 # Required utilities
 RUN apt-get -y install wget
diff --git a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod77-base.dockerfile b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod77-base.dockerfile
index 53238abab4..0bea9b030f 100644
--- a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod77-base.dockerfile
+++ b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Lmod77-base.dockerfile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ RUN \
   apt-get -y update && \
   apt-get -y install ca-certificates && \
   update-ca-certificates && \
-  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip
+  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip python3-venv
 
 # Required utilities
 RUN apt-get -y install wget
diff --git a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Spack.dockerfile b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Spack.dockerfile
index f7e93a1418..dbfe8ba162 100644
--- a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Spack.dockerfile
+++ b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Spack.dockerfile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ RUN \
   apt-get -y install gcc && \
   apt-get -y install make && \
   apt-get -y install git && \
-  apt-get -y install python3 python3-pip
+  apt-get -y install python3 python3-pip python3-venv
 
 # Install ReFrame from the current directory
 COPY --chown=rfmuser . /home/rfmuser/reframe/
diff --git a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Tmod4-base.dockerfile b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Tmod4-base.dockerfile
index bdea0bb358..072b82a32a 100644
--- a/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Tmod4-base.dockerfile
+++ b/ci-scripts/dockerfiles/Tmod4-base.dockerfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ RUN \
   apt-get -y update && \
   apt-get -y install ca-certificates && \
   update-ca-certificates && \
-  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip
+  apt-get -y install gcc make git python3 python3-pip python3-venv
 
 # Required utilities
 RUN apt-get -y install wget