diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
index a83cfc02849d..2c24fe51debf 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     mv pip* pip
     mv setuptools* setuptools
     mv wheel* wheel
-    # Set up PYTHONPATH. The above folders need to be on PYTHONPATH
-    # $out is where we are installing to and takes precedence
-    export PYTHONPATH="$out/${python.sitePackages}:$(pwd)/pip/src:$(pwd)/setuptools:$(pwd)/setuptools/pkg_resources:$(pwd)/wheel:$PYTHONPATH"
+    # Set up PYTHONPATH:
+    # - pip and setuptools need to be in PYTHONPATH to install setuptools, wheel, and pip.
+    # - $out is where we are installing to and takes precedence, and is where wheel will end so we can install pip.
+    export PYTHONPATH="$out/${python.sitePackages}:$(pwd)/pip/src:$(pwd)/setuptools:$(pwd)/setuptools/pkg_resources:$PYTHONPATH"
 
     echo "Building setuptools wheel..."
     pushd setuptools
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python2-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python2-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
index 2fc8b8b8d4b7..314bf0048c8a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python2-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python2-modules/bootstrapped-pip/default.nix
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     mv pip* pip
     mv setuptools* setuptools
     mv wheel* wheel
-    # Set up PYTHONPATH. The above folders need to be on PYTHONPATH
-    # $out is where we are installing to and takes precedence
-    export PYTHONPATH="$out/${python.sitePackages}:$(pwd)/pip/src:$(pwd)/setuptools:$(pwd)/setuptools/pkg_resources:$(pwd)/wheel:$PYTHONPATH"
+    # Set up PYTHONPATH:
+    # - pip and setuptools need to be in PYTHONPATH to install setuptools, wheel, and pip.
+    # - $out is where we are installing to and takes precedence, and is where wheel will end so we can install pip.
+    export PYTHONPATH="$out/${python.sitePackages}:$(pwd)/pip/src:$(pwd)/setuptools:$(pwd)/setuptools/pkg_resources:$PYTHONPATH"
 
     echo "Building setuptools wheel..."
     pushd setuptools