diff --git a/pkgs/servers/matrix-synapse/default.nix b/pkgs/servers/matrix-synapse/default.nix
index 8da9cef58a75..ab9a69afdcb8 100644
--- a/pkgs/servers/matrix-synapse/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/servers/matrix-synapse/default.nix
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ in buildPythonApplication rec {
   ];
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
+    setuptools
     bcrypt
     bleach
     canonicaljson