diff --git a/docs/installation_instructions.md b/docs/installation_instructions.md
index 3c2fe79613312a2696aef441bc4caad338714d0a..2ae767c3f1ac78122fdc64b0dd056d39ec9de61f 100644
--- a/docs/installation_instructions.md
+++ b/docs/installation_instructions.md
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ open an issue on:
     data;
   * root ssh access.
 * A trusted local machine to run the installer on:
-  * You need Python 3 and [virtualenv](https://virtualenv.pypa.io/en/stable/) to
+  * Python 3 installed
+  * We recommend using a [python virtual env](https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/venv.html) to
     make sure we do not change any of your other projects. Install virtualenv
     by running `pip3 install --user virtualenv` or `apt install virtualenv`