diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/passlib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/passlib/default.nix
index ee1eaa064505..7bbd361cb2b1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/passlib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/passlib/default.nix
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
   pytestCheckHook,
   pythonOlder,
   pytest-xdist,
+  setuptools,
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-3v1Q9ytlxUAqssVzgwppeOXyAq0NmEeTyN3ixBUuvgQ";
   };
 
+  dependencies = [ setuptools ];
+
   optional-dependencies = {
     argon2 = [ argon2-cffi ];
     bcrypt = [ bcrypt ];