diff --git a/run_tests.sh b/run_tests.sh
index f7a19cc7..ac634336 100755
--- a/run_tests.sh
+++ b/run_tests.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ FUNCTIONAL_TEST=${FUNCTIONAL_TEST:-true}
 
 # prep the host
 if [ "$(which apt-get)" ]; then
+  apt-get update
   apt-get install -y build-essential python2.7 python-dev git-core libssl-dev libffi-dev
 fi