diff --git a/.github/workflows/api-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/api-tests.yml
index 52883a49..d1f935bc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api-tests.yml
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: "22"
 
+      - name: Create Python virtual environment
+        run: |
+          python -m venv .venv
+          echo "${{ github.workspace }}/.venv/bin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
+
       - name: Install api and pipecat dependencies
         run: ./scripts/setup_requirements.sh --dev
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-pr-drift-check.yml b/.github/workflows/pre-pr-drift-check.yml
index fe451312..cbd2413b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-pr-drift-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-pr-drift-check.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ jobs:
           cache: npm
           cache-dependency-path: ui/package-lock.json
 
+      - name: Create Python virtual environment
+        run: |
+          python -m venv .venv
+          echo "${{ github.workspace }}/.venv/bin" >> "$GITHUB_PATH"
+
       - name: Install api and pipecat dependencies
         run: ./scripts/setup_requirements.sh --dev