diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index f8526be43f..1fb2fcb13d 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ jobs:
           # rebuild the docker image! (it automatically pulls the latest requirements.txt on build)
           source ~/env/bin/activate
           export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
-          pip3 install --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
+          pip3 install  --exists-action w --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
           pip3 freeze
     - run:
         name: Determine Tests to Run (j8_without_vnodes)
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ jobs:
           # rebuild the docker image! (it automatically pulls the latest requirements.txt on build)
           source ~/env/bin/activate
           export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
-          pip3 install --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
+          pip3 install  --exists-action w --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
           pip3 freeze
     - run:
         name: Determine Tests to Run (j8_upgradetests_without_vnodes)
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ jobs:
           # rebuild the docker image! (it automatically pulls the latest requirements.txt on build)
           source ~/env/bin/activate
           export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
-          pip3 install --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
+          pip3 install  --exists-action w --upgrade -r ~/cassandra-dtest/requirements.txt
           pip3 freeze
     - run:
         name: Determine Tests to Run (j8_with_vnodes)