diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/spdx/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/spdx/default.nix
index 0f8b434c2b74..a99ee507936b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/spdx/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/spdx/default.nix
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
   fetchFromGitHub,
   buildPythonPackage,
   nix-update-script,
+  setuptools,
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "spdx";
   version = "2.5";
+  pyproject = true;
 
   src = fetchFromGitHub {
     owner = "bbqsrc";
@@ -16,8 +18,13 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-lfTgAX4Wl01xrvLA12ZUqjah7ZiLafMAU+yNNdVkRk0=";
   };
 
+  build-system = [ setuptools ];
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [ "spdx" ];
 
+  # upstream has no tests
+  doCheck = false;
+
   passthru.updateScript = nix-update-script { };
 
   meta = {