diff --git a/docs/source/deploying.rst b/docs/source/deploying.rst
index 4aded2e6..a8ee6ff1 100644
--- a/docs/source/deploying.rst
+++ b/docs/source/deploying.rst
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ Clone the MediaGoblin repository::
 And setup the in-package virtualenv::
 
     cd mediagoblin
-    virtualenv . && ./bin/python setup.py develop
+    (virtualenv --system-site-packages . || virtualenv .) && ./bin/python setup.py develop
 
 .. note::