diff --git a/readthedocs/doc_builder/python_environments.py b/readthedocs/doc_builder/python_environments.py
index 3d2aa1aba5a..e6009f8f6cc 100644
--- a/readthedocs/doc_builder/python_environments.py
+++ b/readthedocs/doc_builder/python_environments.py
@@ -253,7 +253,6 @@ def install_core_requirements(self):
             'python',
             self.venv_bin(filename='pip'),
             'install',
-            '--use-wheel',
             '--upgrade',
             '--cache-dir',
             self.project.pip_cache_path,
diff --git a/readthedocs/rtd_tests/tests/test_doc_building.py b/readthedocs/rtd_tests/tests/test_doc_building.py
index 512de4f7d5a..d255c555ae0 100644
--- a/readthedocs/rtd_tests/tests/test_doc_building.py
+++ b/readthedocs/rtd_tests/tests/test_doc_building.py
@@ -1137,7 +1137,6 @@ def setUp(self):
             'python',
             mock.ANY,  # pip path
             'install',
-            '--use-wheel',
             '--upgrade',
             '--cache-dir',
             mock.ANY,  # cache path