diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4a24cba9c..aef20e934 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 import os
 import re
 
-reqs = open('requirements.txt', 'r').read().strip().splitlines()
+reqs = []
+
+# skip using requirements.txt in a CONDA environment
+if os.getenv('CONDA_PREFIX') is None:
+    reqs = open('requirements.txt', 'r').read().strip().splitlines()
+
 if os.getenv('READTHEDOCS'):
     reqs.remove('mpi4py')