diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index c696f12c9..c2f2d37f7 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ stages:
   - deploy
 
 before_script:
-  - command -v pipenv >/dev/null && pipenv sync
+  - command -v pipenv >/dev/null && pipenv sync --python=/usr/bin/python3
 
 .core_job:
   only:
diff --git a/ci/Dockerfile b/ci/Dockerfile
index d0a4afa0d..8e5e8f9a4 100644
--- a/ci/Dockerfile
+++ b/ci/Dockerfile
@@ -57,6 +57,15 @@ RUN if [ "${FULLDEPS_TESTING}" = "1" ]; then \
         cd Python-${PYTHON38VER}${PYTHONSUBVER}/ && ./configure && make && make install ; \
     fi
 
+# remove symlinks to newly installed pythons
+RUN cd /usr/local/bin; \
+    rm -f 2to3; \
+    rm -f python3; \
+    rm -f python3-config; \
+    rm -f pydoc3; \
+    rm -f pip3; \
+    rm -f pyvenv;
+
 # install dependencies from toolchain source build
 
 RUN if [ "${TOOLCHAIN_FLAVOR}" = "src" ]; then \