diff --git a/libbeat/scripts/Makefile b/libbeat/scripts/Makefile
index d4103060868..52e942cce0d 100755
--- a/libbeat/scripts/Makefile
+++ b/libbeat/scripts/Makefile
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ load-tests:
 # Sets up the virtual python environment
 .PHONY: python-env
 python-env: ${ES_BEATS}/libbeat/tests/system/requirements.txt
-	@test -d ${PYTHON_ENV} || virtualenv ${PYTHON_ENV}
+	@test -d ${PYTHON_ENV} || virtualenv --always-copy ${PYTHON_ENV}
 	@. ${PYTHON_ENV}/bin/activate && pip install -q --upgrade pip ; \
 	if [ -a ./tests/system/requirements.txt ] && [ ! ${ES_BEATS}/libbeat/tests/system/requirements.txt -ef ./tests/system/requirements.txt ] ; then \
 		. ${PYTHON_ENV}/bin/activate && pip install -qUr ${ES_BEATS}/libbeat/tests/system/requirements.txt -Ur ./tests/system/requirements.txt ; \