diff --git a/pip/__pip-runner__.py b/pip/__pip-runner__.py
index c633787..13caa06 100644
--- a/pip/__pip-runner__.py
+++ b/pip/__pip-runner__.py
@@ -46,5 +46,14 @@ def find_spec(self, fullname, path=None, target=None):  # type: ignore
 
 sys.meta_path.insert(0, PipImportRedirectingFinder())
 
+sys.stderr.write(f"Runner 1: {sys.argv}\n")
+
 assert __name__ == "__main__", "Cannot run __pip-runner__.py as a non-main module"
+
+sys.stderr.write(f"Runner 2: {sys.argv}\n")
+
+sys.argv = sys.argv[1:]
+
 runpy.run_module("pip", run_name="__main__", alter_sys=True)
+
+sys.stderr.write(f"Runner 3: {sys.argv}\n")
\ No newline at end of file