Official Python slim Docker images are shipping with a broken pip installation as of late May / June 2026. Any pip command fails immediately on a fresh pull with no modifications to the image.
Affected Images
python:3.10-slim-busterpython:3.11-slim
Reproduce
docker run --rm python:3.10-slim-buster pip install requests
docker run --rm python:3.11-slim pip install requests
No apt installs, no pip upgrades, no Dockerfile changes, fails on a clean pull.
Error
File "/usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/pip/_internal/locations/__init__.py", line 9
from pip._internal.models.scheme import SCHEME_KEYS, Scheme
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pip._internal.models'
Impact
Silent breaking change. Builds working with zero Dockerfile modifications are
Now broken.
Environment
- Docker: 26.x
- Host OS: Linux
- Date observed: June 1, 2026
Official Python slim Docker images are shipping with a broken pip installation as of late May / June 2026. Any pip command fails immediately on a fresh pull with no modifications to the image.
Affected Images
python:3.10-slim-busterpython:3.11-slimReproduce
No apt installs, no pip upgrades, no Dockerfile changes, fails on a clean pull.
Error
Impact
Silent breaking change. Builds working with zero Dockerfile modifications are
Now broken.
Environment