diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
index 4da2ba6276c3..1c53f3cd4372 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "setuptools";
   version = "38.2.3";
   name = "${python.libPrefix}-${pname}-${version}";
-  pythonModule = python;
 
   src = fetchPypi {
     inherit pname version;