diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nitime/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nitime/default.nix
index 105cecd95b10..b0870c984911 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nitime/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nitime/default.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 , pythonOlder
 , pytestCheckHook
 , cython
+, setuptools
+, setuptools-scm
+, wheel
 , numpy
 , scipy
 , matplotlib
@@ -23,11 +26,32 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-NnoVrSt6MTTcNup1e+/1v5JoHCYcycuQH4rHLzXJt+Y=";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ cython ];
-  propagatedBuildInputs = [ numpy scipy matplotlib networkx nibabel ];
+  # Upstream wants to build against the oldest version of numpy possible, but
+  # we only want to build against the most recent version.
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace pyproject.toml \
+      --replace "numpy==" "numpy>="
+  '';
+
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    cython
+    setuptools
+    setuptools-scm
+    wheel
+  ];
+
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [
+    numpy
+    scipy
+    matplotlib
+    networkx
+    nibabel
+  ];
 
   nativeCheckInputs = [ pytestCheckHook ];
+
   doCheck = !stdenv.isDarwin;  # tests hang indefinitely
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [ "nitime" ];
 
   meta = with lib; {