diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 17da7d6..d9e7df8 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -8,14 +8,16 @@ jobs:
     executor: python/default
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - run:
+          name: Upgrade pip and setuptools
+          command: python -m ensurepip --upgrade || true && python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
       - run:
           name: Install Python dependencies
           command: |
-            python -m pip install --user \
-                -r docs-requirements.txt
+            python -m pip install -r docs-requirements.txt
       - run:
           name: install module
-          command: python -m pip install --user -ve .
+          command: python -m pip install -ve .
       - run:
           name: Build docs
           command: cd docs/ && make html