diff --git a/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pypabuild.py b/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pypabuild.py
index a48adb89e..e93120c12 100644
--- a/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pypabuild.py
+++ b/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pypabuild.py
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ def install_reqs(env: IsolatedEnv, reqs: set[str]) -> None:
         [
             "cython",
             "pythran",
+            "setuptools<65.6.0",  # https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/issues/3693
         ]
     )