diff --git a/attributes/default.rb b/attributes/default.rb
index 85c96eb..0794040 100644
--- a/attributes/default.rb
+++ b/attributes/default.rb
@@ -41,3 +41,4 @@
 
 default['python']['pip_location'] = "#{node['python']['prefix_dir']}/bin/pip"
 default['python']['virtualenv_location'] = "#{node['python']['prefix_dir']}/bin/virtualenv"
+default['python']['virtualenv_version'] = nil
diff --git a/recipes/virtualenv.rb b/recipes/virtualenv.rb
index 4c28f80..719c28c 100644
--- a/recipes/virtualenv.rb
+++ b/recipes/virtualenv.rb
@@ -21,5 +21,6 @@
 include_recipe "python::pip"
 
 python_pip "virtualenv" do
+  version node['python']['virtualenv_version']
   action :install
 end