diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/rpy2-robjects/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/rpy2-robjects/default.nix
index 72034f447237..637a76b82a5e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/rpy2-robjects/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/rpy2-robjects/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 {
-  stdenv,
   lib,
   buildPythonPackage,
   fetchurl,
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@
   jinja2,
   numpy,
   pandas,
+  setuptools,
   tzlocal,
   pytestCheckHook,
 }:
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     R # needed at setup time to detect R_HOME (alternatively set R_HOME explicitly)
   ];
 
-  propagatedBuildInputs = [
+  build-system = [ setuptools ];
+
+  dependencies = [
     ipython
     jinja2
     numpy
@@ -58,6 +60,11 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     "-Wignore::pytest.PytestRemovedIn9Warning"
   ];
 
+  disabledTests = [
+    # panda 3.0 type mismatch
+    "test_ri2pandas"
+  ];
+
   meta = {
     homepage = "https://rpy2.github.io/";
     description = "Python interface to R";