diff --git a/python-construct.changes b/python-construct.changes
index b425c39..b635cc5 100644
--- a/python-construct.changes
+++ b/python-construct.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Tue Jan  2 20:42:20 UTC 2024 - Dirk Müller <dmueller@suse.com>
+
+- require setuptools
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Fri Dec 29 18:13:42 UTC 2023 - Dirk Müller <dmueller@suse.com>
 
diff --git a/python-construct.spec b/python-construct.spec
index 4e10c5c..58c2d8d 100644
--- a/python-construct.spec
+++ b/python-construct.spec
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # spec file
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2023 SUSE LLC
+# Copyright (c) 2024 SUSE LLC
 #
 # All modifications and additions to the file contributed by third parties
 # remain the property of their copyright owners, unless otherwise agreed
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ URL:            https://github.com/construct/construct
 Source:         https://github.com/construct/construct/archive/v%{version}.tar.gz#/construct-%{version}.tar.gz
 Patch0:         split_debug.patch
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module pip}
+BuildRequires:  %{python_module setuptools}
 BuildRequires:  %{python_module wheel}
 BuildRequires:  fdupes
 BuildRequires:  python-rpm-macros