diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index f683570..77cfeb6 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ python:
   - "3.7"
 
 install:
+  - pip install -U setuptools
   # lxml dropped support for Python 3.4 in version 4.4.0
   - if [[ $TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION == 3.4 ]]; then pip install 'lxml<4.4.0'; fi
   # in CI, incompatible zipp version is chosen for some reason