diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/python3-application/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/python3-application/default.nix
index 3101e29049d1..212a90f2bede 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/python3-application/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/python3-application/default.nix
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   buildPythonPackage,
   fetchFromGitHub,
   gitUpdater,
+  setuptools,
   zope-interface,
   twisted,
 }:
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-79Uu9zaBIuuc+1O5Y7Vp4Qg2/aOrwvmdi5G/4AvL+T4=";
   };
 
+  build-system = [ setuptools ];
+
   dependencies = [
     zope-interface
     twisted