diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-build.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-build.yml
index c59ef41..465eb14 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-build.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,18 @@ jobs:
         
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@f95db51fddba0c2d1ec667646a06c2ce06100226 # v3.0.0
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@0a5c61591373683505ea898e09a3ea4f39ef2b9c # v5.0.0
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.11'
+
+      - name: Create virtual environment and update pip
+        run: |
+          python -m venv venv
+          source venv/bin/activate
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+          pip --version
         
       - name: Log in to Docker Hub
         uses: docker/login-action@343f7c4344506bcbf9b4de18042ae17996df046d # v3.0.0
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 92779ef..6b0bc4c 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -6,14 +6,22 @@ WORKDIR /app
 
 # Install system dependencies
 RUN apt-get update && \
-    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends gcc && \
+    apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends gcc python3-venv && \
     apt-get clean && \
     rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
+# Create and activate virtual environment
+ENV VIRTUAL_ENV=/opt/venv
+RUN python -m venv $VIRTUAL_ENV
+ENV PATH="$VIRTUAL_ENV/bin:$PATH"
+
+# Upgrade pip and essential tools
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+
 # Copy requirements first for better caching
 COPY requirements.txt .
 
-# Install Python dependencies
+# Install Python dependencies in venv
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
 
 # Copy the source code