diff --git a/roles/openshift-apps/transtats/files/buildconfig.yml b/roles/openshift-apps/transtats/files/buildconfig.yml
index 25d92b416c..db01af043a 100644
--- a/roles/openshift-apps/transtats/files/buildconfig.yml
+++ b/roles/openshift-apps/transtats/files/buildconfig.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ spec:
         name: python:3.5
         namespace: openshift
       env:
+      - name: UPGRADE_PIP_TO_LATEST
+        value: true
       - name: PIP_INDEX_URL
       - name: TS_AUTH_SYSTEM
         value: fedora