diff --git a/documentation/sphinx/Makefile b/documentation/sphinx/Makefile
index 505aa79bb7..d23b136f1f 100644
--- a/documentation/sphinx/Makefile
+++ b/documentation/sphinx/Makefile
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ buildsphinx:
 	if [ ! -e $(SPHINXBUILD) ]; then \
 		mkdir $(BUILDDIR); \
 		cd $(BUILDDIR); \
-		curl -O $(VENV_URL); \
+		curl -OL $(VENV_URL); \
 		tar zxvf $(VENV_VERSION).tar.gz; \
 		./$(VENV_VERSION)/virtualenv.py venv; \
 	fi