diff --git a/rattail_fabric/python.py b/rattail_fabric/python.py
index 7c07ad6..20e6cb4 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric/python.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric/python.py
@@ -106,9 +106,13 @@ def mkvirtualenv(name, python=None, user=None, workon_home=None, upgrade_pip=Tru
     workon_home = workon_home or getattr(env, 'python_workon_home', '/srv/envs')
     sudo('mkvirtualenv {} {}'.format('--python={}'.format(python) if python else '', name))
     if upgrade_pip:
+        if isinstance(upgrade_pip, six.string_types):
+            pip_req = upgrade_pip
+        else:
+            pip_req = 'pip'
         with workon(name):
             pip('six')
-            pip('pip', 'setuptools', 'wheel', 'ndg-httpsclient')
+            pip(pip_req, 'setuptools', 'wheel', 'ndg-httpsclient')
     if user:
         with cdvirtualenv(name, workon_home=workon_home):
             mkdir('app/log', owner='{0}:{0}'.format(user))