diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 39eb18d4bb49..d003c969ab99 100755
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ def get_option_from_sys_argv(option_str):
     os.environ['PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION'] = 'cpp'
 
   # Keep this list of dependencies in sync with tox.ini.
-  install_requires = ['six>=1.9', 'setuptools']
+  install_requires = ['six>=1.9']
   if sys.version_info <= (2,7):
     install_requires.append('ordereddict')
     install_requires.append('unittest2')