diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pygmt/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pygmt/default.nix
index 9b6e8d6c2cae..43f6b2073211 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pygmt/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pygmt/default.nix
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "pygmt";
   version = "0.8.0";
+  format = "pyproject";
 
   disabled = pythonOlder "3.6";