diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nose/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nose/default.nix
index 456bbfd9aedd..451c71897da9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nose/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nose/default.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,19 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "f1bffef9cbc82628f6e7d7b40d7e255aefaa1adb6a1b1d26c69a8b79e6208a98";
   };
 
+  # 2to3 was removed in setuptools 58
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace setup.py \
+      --replace "'use_2to3': True," ""
+
+    substituteInPlace setup3lib.py \
+      --replace "from setuptools.command.build_py import Mixin2to3" "from distutils.util import Mixin2to3"
+  '';
+
+  preBuild = ''
+    2to3 -wn nose functional_tests unit_tests
+  '';
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ coverage ];
 
   doCheck = false;  # lot's of transient errors, too much hassle