diff --git a/scripts/dev/configure_container_auth.sh b/scripts/dev/configure_container_auth.sh
index fa20539b0..1afd8429d 100755
--- a/scripts/dev/configure_container_auth.sh
+++ b/scripts/dev/configure_container_auth.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ source scripts/funcs/checks
 source scripts/funcs/printing
 source scripts/funcs/kubernetes
 
+# Activate venv if it exists (needed for AWS CLI on IBM architectures)
+if [[ -f "${PROJECT_DIR}/venv/bin/activate" ]]; then
+    source "${PROJECT_DIR}/venv/bin/activate"
+fi
+
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME="${CONTAINER_RUNTIME-"docker"}"
 
 setup_validate_container_runtime() {
diff --git a/scripts/dev/recreate_python_venv.sh b/scripts/dev/recreate_python_venv.sh
index c2b94a8d9..3069f14c8 100755
--- a/scripts/dev/recreate_python_venv.sh
+++ b/scripts/dev/recreate_python_venv.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ set -Eeou pipefail
 source scripts/dev/set_env_context.sh
 
 install_pyenv() {
+      # Install python3-venv package for Debian/Ubuntu systems if needed
+      if command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
+          echo "Installing python3-venv package for venv support..." >&2
+          sudo apt-get update -qq || true
+          sudo apt-get install -y python3-venv || true
+      fi
+
     # Check if pyenv directory exists first
     if [[ -d "${HOME}/.pyenv" ]]; then
         echo "pyenv directory already exists, setting up environment..." >&2
@@ -54,38 +61,22 @@ install_pyenv() {
 }
 
 ensure_required_python() {
-    local required_version="${PYTHON_VERSION:-3.13}"
-    local major_minor
-    major_minor=$(echo "${required_version}" | grep -oE '^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')
+    local required_version="${PYTHON_VERSION:-3.13.7}"
 
-    echo "Setting up Python ${required_version} (${major_minor}.x)..." >&2
+    echo "Setting up Python ${required_version}..." >&2
 
-    # Always install pyenv first
     if ! install_pyenv; then
         echo "Error: Failed to install pyenv" >&2
         return 1
     fi
 
-    # Install latest version in the required series
-    local latest_version
-    latest_version=$(pyenv install --list | grep -E "^[[:space:]]*${major_minor}\.[0-9]+$" | tail -1 | xargs)
-    if [[ -n "${latest_version}" ]]; then
-        echo "Installing Python ${latest_version} via pyenv..." >&2
-        # Use --skip-existing to avoid errors if version already exists
-        if pyenv install --skip-existing "${latest_version}"; then
-            pyenv global "${latest_version}"
-            # Install python3-venv package for Debian/Ubuntu systems if needed
-            if command -v apt-get &> /dev/null; then
-                echo "Installing python3-venv package for venv support..." >&2
-                sudo apt-get update -qq || true
-                sudo apt-get install -y python3-venv || true
-            fi
-            return 0
-        fi
+    # Install specific pinned version for consistency across runs
+    echo "Installing Python ${required_version} via pyenv..." >&2
+    # Use --skip-existing to avoid errors if version already exists
+    if pyenv install --skip-existing "${required_version}"; then
+        pyenv global "${required_version}"
+        return 0
     fi
-
-    echo "Error: Unable to install Python ${major_minor} via pyenv" >&2
-    return 1
 }
 
 if [[ -d "${PROJECT_DIR}"/venv ]]; then
diff --git a/scripts/evergreen/setup_aws.sh b/scripts/evergreen/setup_aws.sh
index 52c611d39..5f947fcb5 100755
--- a/scripts/evergreen/setup_aws.sh
+++ b/scripts/evergreen/setup_aws.sh
@@ -42,30 +42,31 @@ install_aws_cli_binary() {
 install_aws_cli_pip() {
     echo "Installing AWS CLI v1 via pip (for IBM architectures)..."
 
-    # Ensure pip is available
-    if ! command -v pip3 &> /dev/null && ! command -v pip &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "Error: pip is not available. Please install Python and pip first." >&2
+    if [[ ! -d "${PROJECT_DIR}/venv" ]]; then
+        echo "Error: Python venv not found at ${PROJECT_DIR}/venv. Please run recreate_python_venv.sh first." >&2
         return 1
     fi
 
-    # Check if AWS CLI exists and works before installing
-    if command -v aws &> /dev/null && aws --version &> /dev/null 2>&1; then
-        echo "AWS CLI is already installed and working"
-        return 0
-    fi
-
-    echo "Installing AWS CLI using pip3..."
-    pip3 install --user awscli
+    # Activate the venv
+    source "${PROJECT_DIR}/venv/bin/activate"
 
-    # Add ~/.local/bin to PATH if not already there (where pip --user installs)
-    if [[ ":${PATH}:" != *":${HOME}/.local/bin:"* ]]; then
-        export PATH="${HOME}/.local/bin:${PATH}"
-        echo "Added ~/.local/bin to PATH"
+    # Check if AWS CLI exists and works in the venv
+    if command -v aws &> /dev/null; then
+        if aws --version > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "AWS CLI is already installed and working in venv"
+            return 0
+        else
+            echo "AWS CLI exists but not functional, reinstalling in venv..."
+            pip uninstall -y awscli || true
+        fi
     fi
 
+    echo "Installing AWS CLI into venv using pip..."
+    pip install awscli
+
     # Verify installation
     if command -v aws &> /dev/null; then
-        echo "AWS CLI v1 installed successfully"
+        echo "AWS CLI v1 installed successfully in venv"
     else
         echo "Error: AWS CLI v1 installation failed" >&2
         return 1