diff --git a/tools/provision b/tools/provision
index e3917906f..3ef3d3c38 100755
--- a/tools/provision
+++ b/tools/provision
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import argparse
-import pip
-import six
 import subprocess
 import warnings
 
@@ -24,10 +22,18 @@ the Python version this command is executed with."""
 
     venv_dir = os.path.join(base_dir, venv_name)
     if not os.path.isdir(venv_dir):
-        if subprocess.call(['virtualenv', '-p', python_interpreter, venv_dir]):
-            raise OSError("The command `virtualenv -p {} {}` failed. Virtualenv not created!"
-                          .format(python_interpreter, venv_dir))
+        try:
+            return_code = subprocess.call(['virtualenv', '-p', python_interpreter, venv_dir])
+        except OSError:
+            if subprocess.call(['which', 'virtualenv']):
+                print("{red}Please install the virtualenv package and try again.{end_format}"
+                      .format(red='\033[91m', end_format='\033[0m'))
+                sys.exit(1)
+            raise
         else:
+            if return_code:
+                raise OSError("The command `virtualenv -p {} {}` failed. Virtualenv not created!"
+                              .format(python_interpreter, venv_dir))
             print("New virtualenv created.")
     else:
         print("Virtualenv already exists.")
@@ -51,8 +57,10 @@ the Python version this command is executed with."""
     # the venv's Python interpreter. `--prefix venv_dir` ensures that all modules are installed
     # in the right place.
     def install_dependencies(requirements_filename):
-        if subprocess.call([os.path.join(venv_dir, venv_exec_dir, 'pip'),
-                           'install', '--prefix', venv_dir, '-r', os.path.join(base_dir, requirements_filename)]):
+        pip_path = os.path.join(venv_dir, venv_exec_dir, 'pip')
+        subprocess.call([pip_path, 'install', 'pip>=9.0'])
+        if subprocess.call([pip_path, 'install', '--prefix', venv_dir, '-r',
+                            os.path.join(base_dir, requirements_filename)]):
             raise OSError("The command `pip install -r {}` failed. Dependencies not installed!"
                           .format(os.path.join(base_dir, requirements_filename)))