diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 09cd257a..066413aa 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 extras_require["complete-cuda"] = sorted(set(sum(_all_extras, [])))
 
 
-setup_requirements = []
+setup_requirements = ["setuptools"]
 test_requirements = (
     extras_require["testing"]
     + extras_require["astropy"]