diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/i3-py/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/i3-py/default.nix
index 5cd1d9346768..d99fed832d2c 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/i3-py/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/i3-py/default.nix
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
   lib,
   buildPythonPackage,
   fetchPypi,
+  setuptools,
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   version = "0.6.4";
-  format = "setuptools";
+  pyproject = true;
   pname = "i3-py";
 
   src = fetchPypi {
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   # no tests in tarball
   doCheck = false;
 
+  build-system = [ setuptools ];
+
   meta = {
     description = "Tools for i3 users and developers";
     homepage = "https://github.com/ziberna/i3-py";