diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 73662230..c947e6b6 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ def write_file(filename, content):
     ],
 
     packages=['lupa'],
-    build_requires=['Cython>=0.29.28'],
+    setup_requires=['Cython>=0.29.28'],
     ext_modules=ext_modules,
     libraries=ext_libraries,
     **extra_setup_args