diff --git a/rattail_fabric/backup.py b/rattail_fabric/backup.py
index ef4cf3c..f2090af 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/backup.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/backup.py
@@ -79,12 +79,13 @@ def deploy_backup_app(deploy, envname, mkvirtualenv=True, user='rattail',
 
     # virtualenv
     if mkvirtualenv:
-        python.mkvirtualenv(envname, python=python_exe, upgrade_setuptools=False)
+        python.mkvirtualenv(envname, python=python_exe, upgrade_setuptools=False,
+                            runas_user=user)
     envpath = '/srv/envs/{}'.format(envname)
     sudo('chown -R {}: {}'.format(user, envpath))
     with cd(envpath):
         mkdir('src', owner=user)
-        sudo('bin/pip install --upgrade pip', user=user)
+        sudo('bin/pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel', user=user)
 
         # rattail
         if not exists('src/rattail'):