diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/markdown/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/markdown/default.nix
index 364fa4d81be2..1438391dc406 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/markdown/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/markdown/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { lib
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
+, setuptools
 , nose
 , pyyaml
 }:
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "2e50876bcdd74517e7b71f3e7a76102050edec255b3983403f1a63e7c8a41e7a";
   };
 
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ setuptools ];
+
   checkInputs = [ nose pyyaml ];
 
   meta = {