diff --git a/tests/run.yml b/tests/run.yml
index dafc9cdce7..7f9c26f37b 100644
--- a/tests/run.yml
+++ b/tests/run.yml
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@
       when:
         - ansible_architecture == 'aarch64'
 
+    - name: Ensure tox is installed
+      pip:
+        name: tox
+      when: need_build_image
+      become: true
+
     # NOTE(yoctozepto): required to template template_overrides.j2 for Zuul
     - name: Include kolla Zuul vars if building new images
       include_vars: