diff --git a/virtualenv.py b/virtualenv.py
index 8f05739..cd10e9f 100755
--- a/virtualenv.py
+++ b/virtualenv.py
@@ -476,7 +476,18 @@ def virtualenv_support_dirs():
 
     # normal filesystem installation
     if os.path.isdir(join(HERE, "virtualenv_support")):
-        yield [join(HERE, "virtualenv_support")]
+        dirs = [join(HERE, "virtualenv_support")]
+        if os.path.isdir("/usr/share/python-wheels"):
+            dirs.insert(0, "/usr/share/python-wheels")
+        try:
+            import ensurepip
+            ensurepip_path = os.path.join(ensurepip.__path__[0], "_bundled")
+        except (ImportError, AttributeError, IndexError):
+            pass
+        else:
+            if os.path.isdir(ensurepip_path):
+                dirs.insert(0, ensurepip_path)
+        yield dirs
     elif IS_ZIPAPP:
         tmpdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
         try: