diff --git a/.ci/azure-pipelines-steps.yml b/.ci/azure-pipelines-steps.yml
index ed516d729..5e7dd998c 100644
--- a/.ci/azure-pipelines-steps.yml
+++ b/.ci/azure-pipelines-steps.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ steps:
   displayName: Install build deps
   condition: and(eq(variables['python.version'], ''), eq(variables['Agent.OS'], 'Linux'))
 
-- script: python -mpip install "tox<4.0"
+- script: python -mpip install "setuptools" "tox<4.0"
   displayName: Install tooling
 
 - script: python -mtox -e "$(tox.env)"
diff --git a/.ci/azure-pipelines.yml b/.ci/azure-pipelines.yml
index f672240d0..bc2491ab7 100644
--- a/.ci/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/.ci/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ jobs:
   strategy:
     matrix:
       Mito_27:
+        python.version: '2.7'
         tox.env: py27-mode_mitogen
       Mito_311:
         python.version: '3.11'
@@ -27,16 +28,20 @@ jobs:
 
       # TODO: test python3, python3 tests are broken
       Loc_27_210:
+        python.version: '2.7'
         tox.env: py27-mode_localhost-ansible2.10
       Loc_27_4:
+        python.version: '2.7'
         tox.env: py27-mode_localhost-ansible4
 
       # NOTE: this hangs when ran in Ubuntu 18.04
       Van_27_210:
+        python.version: '2.7'
         tox.env: py27-mode_localhost-ansible2.10
         STRATEGY: linear
         ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS: resource_intensive
       Van_27_4:
+        python.version: '2.7'
         tox.env: py27-mode_localhost-ansible4
         STRATEGY: linear
         ANSIBLE_SKIP_TAGS: resource_intensive