diff --git a/modules/jenkins/files/slave_scripts/run-cover.sh b/modules/jenkins/files/slave_scripts/run-cover.sh
index 832be2c2e0..02dac0916f 100755
--- a/modules/jenkins/files/slave_scripts/run-cover.sh
+++ b/modules/jenkins/files/slave_scripts/run-cover.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ export NOSE_COVER_HTML=1
 
 venv=cover
 
+# Workaround the combo of tox running setup.py outside of virtualenv
+# and RHEL having an old distribute. The next line can be removed
+# when either get fixed.
+python setup.py --version 2>/dev/null
+
 tox -e$venv
 result=$?