diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/clize/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/clize/default.nix
index 1b0caeaaf266..f1e5b16320b6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/clize/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/clize/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
 
+# build
+, setuptools
+
 # propagtes
 , sigtools
 , six
@@ -21,6 +24,7 @@
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "clize";
   version = "4.2.1";
+  format = "pyproject";
 
   src = fetchPypi {
     inherit pname version;
@@ -29,9 +33,14 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   postPatch = ''
     substituteInPlace setup.py \
-      --replace "docutils ~= 0.17.0" "docutils"
+      --replace "docutils ~= 0.17.0" "docutils" \
+      --replace "attrs>=19.1.0,<22" "attrs>=19.1.0"
   '';
 
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    setuptools
+  ];
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
     attrs
     docutils