diff --git a/gh_release.py b/gh_release.py
index 96d546f..ee9f0a7 100755
--- a/gh_release.py
+++ b/gh_release.py
@@ -574,6 +574,8 @@ def pyodide_setup(clean=False):
         command += f' && echo "### creating venv {venv_pyodide}"'
         command += f' && {sys.executable} -m venv {venv_pyodide}'
     command += f' && . {venv_pyodide}/bin/activate'
+    command += f' && echo "### upgrading pip ..."'
+    command += f' && python -m pip install --upgrade pip'
     command += f' && echo "### running pip install ..."'
     command += f' && echo "### installing setuptools ..."'
     command += f' && python -m pip install --upgrade pip wheel setuptools==70.0.0'