diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 79ddbf6..34b80d0 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ python:
   - "2.7"
 # command to install dependencies
 install:
+  - pip install -U setuptools
   - pip install .
 # command to run tests
 script: nosetests