diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mkdocs/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mkdocs/default.nix
index 58b92815d1c7..2a2a49fd9b91 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mkdocs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mkdocs/default.nix
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-JQSOgV12iYE6FubxdoJpWy9EHKFxyKoxrm/7arCn9Ak=";
   };
 
-  build-system = [ hatchling ];
+  build-system = [
+    hatchling
+    # babel, setuptools required as "build hooks"
+    babel
+  ] ++ lib.optionals (pythonAtLeast "3.12") [ setuptools ];
 
   dependencies = [
     click
@@ -67,7 +71,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   ] ++ lib.optionals (pythonOlder "3.10") [ importlib-metadata ];
 
   optional-dependencies = {
-    i18n = [ babel ] ++ lib.optionals (pythonAtLeast "3.12") [ setuptools ];
+    i18n = [ babel ];
   };
 
   nativeCheckInputs = [