diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index 1e1adf0..5ecaa71 100755
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ def setup_venv(dry_run=False):
 
     # Always (re-)install requirements so updates are picked up
     if not dry_run:
+        # Bootstrap pip if the venv was created without it (common on Arch)
+        code, _, _ = run_quiet([str(VENV_PYTHON), "-m", "pip", "--version"])
+        if code != 0:
+            info("pip not found in venv — bootstrapping via ensurepip …")
+            run([str(VENV_PYTHON), "-m", "ensurepip", "--upgrade"])
+
         info("Installing / updating requirements …")
         run([str(VENV_PYTHON), "-m", "pip", "install", "--quiet", "--upgrade", "pip"])
         run([str(VENV_PYTHON), "-m", "pip", "install", "--quiet", "-r", str(REQUIREMENTS)])