diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/gi/git-sim/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/gi/git-sim/package.nix
index 2cae12371b63..bf9bc52b782b 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/gi/git-sim/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/gi/git-sim/package.nix
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 let
   inherit (python3Packages)
     buildPythonApplication
+    setuptools
     gitpython
     manim
     opencv4
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ buildPythonApplication {
 
   patches = [ ./tests.patch ];
 
-  build-system = [ ];
+  build-system = [ setuptools ];
 
   pythonRemoveDeps = [ "opencv-python-headless" ];