diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 07c0883b69f..16d2533ebc0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ If you've already partially compiled servo but forgot to do this step, run `./ma
 
 #### On Debian-based Linuxes
 
-Simply running `./mach bootstrap` should be enough. If not, run the commands below:
+Please run `sudo apt install python-virtualenv build-essential libssl-dev libffi-dev python-dev` followed by `./mach bootstrap`.
+
+If this doesn't work, file a bug, and, run the commands below:
 
 ``` sh
 sudo apt install git curl autoconf libx11-dev \
@@ -101,7 +103,9 @@ If `virtualenv` does not exist, try `python-virtualenv`.
 
 #### On Fedora
 
-Simply running `./mach bootstrap` should be enough. If not, run the commands below:
+Please run `sudo dnf install python2-virtualenv gcc libffi-devel python-devel openssl-devel` followed by `./mach bootstrap`.
+
+If this doesn't work, file a bug, and, run the commands below:
 
 ``` sh
 sudo dnf install curl libtool gcc-c++ libXi-devel \
@@ -113,7 +117,10 @@ sudo dnf install curl libtool gcc-c++ libXi-devel \
 ```
 #### On CentOS
 
-Simply running `./mach bootstrap` should be enough. If not, run the commands below:
+
+Please run `sudo yum install python2-virtualenv gcc libffi-devel python-devel openssl-devel` followed by `./mach bootstrap`.
+
+If this doesn't work, file a bug, and, run the commands below:
 
 ``` sh
 sudo yum install curl libtool gcc-c++ libXi-devel \
diff --git a/python/servo/bootstrap.py b/python/servo/bootstrap.py
index d6d9dc1d1e6..c2c046d2609 100644
--- a/python/servo/bootstrap.py
+++ b/python/servo/bootstrap.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def linux(context, force=False):
     # Please keep these in sync with the packages in README.md
     pkgs_apt = ['git', 'curl', 'autoconf', 'libx11-dev', 'libfreetype6-dev',
                 'libgl1-mesa-dri', 'libglib2.0-dev', 'xorg-dev', 'gperf', 'g++',
-                'build-essential', 'cmake', 'virtualenv', 'python-pip',
+                'build-essential', 'cmake', 'python-pip',
                 'libbz2-dev', 'libosmesa6-dev', 'libxmu6', 'libxmu-dev', 'libglu1-mesa-dev',
                 'libgles2-mesa-dev', 'libegl1-mesa-dev', 'libdbus-1-dev', 'libharfbuzz-dev',
                 'ccache', 'clang', 'libgstreamer1.0-dev', 'libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-dev',
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ def linux(context, force=False):
             pkgs_apt += ["libssl-dev"]
         else:
             pkgs_apt += ["libssl1.0-dev"]
+
+        if context.distro_version == "14.04":
+            pkgs_apt += ["python-virtualenv"]
+        else:
+            pkgs_apt += ["virtualenv"]
+
     elif context.distro == "Debian" and context.distro_version == "Sid":
         pkgs_apt += ["libssl-dev"]
     else: