diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/primer3/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/primer3/default.nix
index ee5346bacb07..78d43a08b4ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/primer3/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/primer3/default.nix
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@
 , click
 , pytestCheckHook
 , pythonOlder
+, setuptools
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "primer3";
   version = "2.0.3";
-  format = "setuptools";
+  pyproject = true;
 
   disabled = pythonOlder "3.7";
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     cython
+    setuptools
   ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [
     gcc
   ];