diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index bfb6395..2201205 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ def BTreeExtension(family):
       include_package_data=True,
       zip_safe=False,
       ext_modules = ext_modules,
-      setup_requires=['persistent'],
       extras_require = {
         'test': TESTS_REQUIRE,
         'ZODB': ['ZODB'],