diff --git a/smoke/venv.sh b/smoke/venv.sh
index 9585acc..4281e5c 100755
--- a/smoke/venv.sh
+++ b/smoke/venv.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ if [ "$VERSION" == "2.6" ]; then
 else
     python -m pip install pytest
     if [ "$PYTHON" != "jython" ]; then
-        python -m pip install Cython
+        # We try to fetch a wheel only and if that fails, we disable compilation
+        # Useful for fresh CPythons, where wheels are not yet ready, but Cython defaults to compiling
+        python -m pip install Cython --only-binary :all: || python -m pip install Cython --install-option="--no-cython-compile"
     fi
 fi