diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e214a291..d36ee733 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -6,8 +6,14 @@
 
 from codecs import StreamReader, open
 
+import setuptools
 from setuptools import find_packages, setup
 
+from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+if LooseVersion(setuptools.__version__) < LooseVersion('20.5'):
+    import sys
+    sys.exit('Installation failed: Upgrade setuptools to version 20.5 or later')
+
 ##
 # Load long description for PyPi.
 with open('README.rst', 'r', 'utf-8') as f: # type: StreamReader