diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml
index 7b221fcc21..a90e66f929 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration_tests.yml
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
       - name: Start synapse server
         run: |
-          python3 -m venv .synapse
-          source .synapse/bin/activate
           pip install matrix-synapse
           curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/matrix-org/synapse/develop/demo/start.sh -o start.sh
           chmod 777 start.sh
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sanity_test.yml b/.github/workflows/sanity_test.yml
index 6154f88674..f6f5ae151f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sanity_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sanity_test.yml
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
       - name: Start synapse server
         run: |
-          python3 -m venv .synapse
-          source .synapse/bin/activate
           pip install matrix-synapse
           curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/matrix-org/synapse/develop/demo/start.sh \
             | sed s/127.0.0.1/0.0.0.0/g | sed 's/http:\/\/localhost/http:\/\/10.0.2.2/g' | bash -s -- --no-rate-limit