diff --git a/panda/python/core/setup.py b/panda/python/core/setup.py
index 10607ac46a2..c0fa18b7055 100644
--- a/panda/python/core/setup.py
+++ b/panda/python/core/setup.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def run(self):
           'data/pypanda/include/*.h',         # Includes files
           'qcows.json'                        # Generic Images
           ]},
-      install_requires=[ 'cffi>=1.14.3', 'colorama'],
+      install_requires=[ 'cffi>=1.14.3', 'colorama', 'protobuf>=4.25.1'],
       python_requires='>=3.6',
       cmdclass={'install': custom_install, 'develop': custom_develop},
      )