diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 80730abd..c5c4a773 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -147,6 +147,11 @@ if test "x$enable_daemon" = "xyes" ; then
   AC_CHECK_PROG(ovs_of_path, ovs-ofctl, $as_dir, no, $SEARCHPATH)
 fi
 
+AC_CHECK_PROG(pip_installed, pip, yes, no, $SEARCHPATH)
+if test "x$pip_installed" = "xno" ; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([Could not locate pip. Please install python-pip.])
+fi
+
 #AC_CHECK_PROG(dia, dia, yes, no)
 AC_CHECK_PROG(help2man, help2man, yes, no, $SEARCHPATH)
 if test "x$convert" = "xno" ; then
diff --git a/daemon/Makefile.am b/daemon/Makefile.am
index 74673b8a..fde0871c 100644
--- a/daemon/Makefile.am
+++ b/daemon/Makefile.am
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ build:
 
 # Python package install
 install-exec-hook:
-	$(PYTHON) $(SETUPPY) $(SETUPPYFLAGS) install --prefix=${DESTDIR}/${pyprefix} --install-purelib=${DESTDIR}/${pythondir} --install-platlib=${DESTDIR}/${pyexecdir} --no-compile
+	pip install .
 
 install-data-local:
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(LOGROTATE_DIR)
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ uninstall-local:
 
 # Python package uninstall
 uninstall-hook:
-	rm -f ${pythondir}/core_python-${COREDPY_VERSION}-py${PYTHON_VERSION}.egg-info
+	yes | pip uninstall core_python
 	rm -f ${pythondir}/core_python_netns-1.0-py${PYTHON_VERSION}.egg-info
 	rm -rf ${pythondir}/core
 	rmdir -p $(coreexservicesdir) || true