diff --git a/bin/steps/pip-install b/bin/steps/pip-install
index 085fd47a6..61b648871 100755
--- a/bin/steps/pip-install
+++ b/bin/steps/pip-install
@@ -29,24 +29,25 @@ else
     sed -i "s/\$APP/$PYPIAPP/" requirements*
 fi
 
-if [ -f requirements.local.$APP ]; then
+puts-step "Installing standard packages for $APP"
+/app/.heroku/python/bin/pip install --process-dependency-links -r requirements.txt --exists-action=w --src=./.heroku/src --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir 2>&1 | tee $WARNINGS_LOG | cleanup | indent
+PIP_STATUS="${PIPESTATUS[0]}"
+
+# install $APP-local requirements.
+function install_local() {
   # uninstall packages before installing them 
-  puts-step "Uninstalling pre-installed shrebo libraries from requirements.local.$APP"
-  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip uninstall -y -r requirements.local.$APP --disable-pip-version-check
-  puts-step "Installing shrebo packages for $APP from requirements.local.$APP"
-  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip install --process-dependency-links -r requirements.local.$APP --exists-action=w --src=./.heroku/src --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir 2>&1 | tee $WARNINGS_LOG | cleanup | indent
+  puts-step "Uninstalling pre-installed shrebo libraries from $1"
+  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip uninstall -y -r $1 --disable-pip-version-check
+  puts-step "Installing shrebo packages for $APP from $"
+  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip install --process-dependency-links -r $1 --allow-external --exists-action=w --src=./.heroku/src --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir 2>&1 | tee $WARNINGS_LOG | cleanup | indent
   PIP_STATUS="${PIPESTATUS[0]}"
+}
+
+if [ -f requirements.local.$APP ]; then
+  install_local requirements.local.$APP
 elif [ -f requirements.local ]; then
-  puts-step "Uninstalling pre-installed shrebo libraries from requirements.local"
-  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip uninstall -y -r requirements.local --disable-pip-version-check
-  puts-step "Installing shrebo packages for $APP from requirements.local"
-  /app/.heroku/python/bin/pip install --process-dependency-links -r requirements.local --exists-action=w --src=./.heroku/src --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir 2>&1 | tee $WARNINGS_LOG | cleanup | indent
-  PIP_STATUS="${PIPESTATUS[0]}"
+  install_local requirements.local
 fi
-
-puts-step "Installing standard packages for $APP"
-/app/.heroku/python/bin/pip install --process-dependency-links -r requirements.txt --exists-action=w --src=./.heroku/src --disable-pip-version-check --no-cache-dir 2>&1 | tee $WARNINGS_LOG | cleanup | indent
-PIP_STATUS="${PIPESTATUS[0]}"
 set -e
 
 show-warnings