diff --git a/tools/gate/playbooks/airskiff-deploy.yaml b/tools/gate/playbooks/airskiff-deploy.yaml
index 1497993b..10be09d7 100644
--- a/tools/gate/playbooks/airskiff-deploy.yaml
+++ b/tools/gate/playbooks/airskiff-deploy.yaml
@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@
         name: systemd-resolved
       become: yes
 
+    - name: ensure pip3 is installed
+      apt:
+        name: "{{ item }}"
+      with_items:
+        - python3-pip
+        - python3-setuptools
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+      become: true
+
     - name: Clone Required Repositories
       shell: |
         export CLONE_ARMADA={{ CLONE_ARMADA }}