diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests+pypi.yml b/.github/workflows/tests+pypi.yml
index ef0eee7f..0b3bb97d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests+pypi.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests+pypi.yml
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo ln -s `which python3` /usr/local/bin/python
           echo "PIP_INSTALL_ARGS=--break-system-packages" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           type python
+          python -m pip install setuptools
       - run: |
           python -m pip install $PIP_INSTALL_ARGS -e .  # to check if usable without test/example dependencies
           python -We -c "import PyMPDATA"
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 64bad99e..3c99dd60 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def get_long_description():
     description="Numba-accelerated Pythonic implementation of MPDATA "
     "with examples in Python, Julia and Matlab",
     use_scm_version={"local_scheme": lambda _: "", "version_scheme": "post-release"},
-    setup_requires=["setuptools", "setuptools_scm"],
+    setup_requires=["setuptools_scm"],
     install_requires=[
         "numba"
         + (