diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 88e6ded3..43c249ed 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,12 +22,13 @@ A React + Redux web application for exploring large scale single cell RNA sequen
 
 #### To use with virtual env for python (optional, but recommended)
 
-    python3 -m venv <env name>
-    source <env name>/bin/activate
+    ENV_NAME=cellxgene
+    python3 -m venv ${ENV_NAME}
+    source ${ENV_NAME}/bin/activate
 
 #### install server
 
-    python setup.py install
+    python3 setup.py install
 
 #### run (with demo data)