diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pylsp-rope/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pylsp-rope/default.nix
index 34b4a229e25e..e7af3803e480 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pylsp-rope/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pylsp-rope/default.nix
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
   pythonOlder,
   fetchFromGitHub,
 
+  # build-system
+  setuptools,
+
   # dependencies
   rope,
   python-lsp-server,
@@ -26,6 +29,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-Mr+mWRvOXoy7+SosMae80o0V1jBMn1dEoGmaR/BGHrc=";
   };
 
+  build-system =  [
+    setuptools
+  ];
+
   dependencies = [
     rope
     python-lsp-server