diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index f3a382e5..fbfb0a48 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `python` class:
 * [`manage_dev_package`](#-python--manage_dev_package)
 * [`manage_venv_package`](#-python--manage_venv_package)
 * [`manage_pip_package`](#-python--manage_pip_package)
+* [`manage_setuptools`](#-python--manage_setuptools)
 * [`venv`](#-python--venv)
 * [`gunicorn_package_name`](#-python--gunicorn_package_name)
 * [`python_pips`](#-python--python_pips)
@@ -217,6 +218,14 @@ manage the state for package pip
 
 Default value: `$python::params::manage_pip_package`
 
+##### <a name="-python--manage_setuptools"></a>`manage_setuptools`
+
+Data type: `Boolean`
+
+if true, install python-setuptools
+
+Default value: `$facts['os']['family'] ? { 'Archlinux' => true, default => false`
+
 ##### <a name="-python--venv"></a>`venv`
 
 Data type: `Python::Package::Ensure`
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index b457edbd..24bf08e4 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 # @param manage_dev_package manage the state of the python development package
 # @param manage_venv_package manage the state for package venv
 # @param manage_pip_package manage the state for package pip
+# @param manage_setuptools if true, install python-setuptools
 #
 # @example install python from system python
 #   class { 'python':
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@
   Stdlib::Absolutepath       $anaconda_install_path       = '/opt/python',
   Boolean                    $manage_scl                  = true,
   Optional[Python::Umask]    $umask                       = undef,
+  Boolean $manage_setuptools = $facts['os']['family'] ? { 'Archlinux' => true, default => false, },
 ) inherits python::params {
   $exec_prefix = $provider ? {
     'scl'   => "/usr/bin/scl enable ${version} -- ",
diff --git a/manifests/install.pp b/manifests/install.pp
index c3db3d80..e2a70868 100644
--- a/manifests/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/install.pp
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@
     'Suse'      => "${python}-devel",
   }
 
+  if $python::manage_setuptools {
+    package { 'python-setuptools':
+      ensure => 'installed',
+    }
+  }
+
   if $python::manage_python_package {
     package { 'python':
       ensure => $python::ensure,