diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index cdcf3b3bb..f03ab9c40 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def has_environment_marker_support():
 
 
 def main():
-    install_requires = ['py>=1.4.29']  # pluggy is vendored in _pytest.vendored_packages
+    install_requires = ['py>=1.4.29', 'setuptools']  # pluggy is vendored in _pytest.vendored_packages
     extras_require = {}
     if has_environment_marker_support():
         extras_require[':python_version=="2.6"'] = ['argparse']