diff --git a/requirements/base.txt b/requirements/base.txt
index 0b2d2cec..14f80a77 100644
--- a/requirements/base.txt
+++ b/requirements/base.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+setuptools<82 # until we modernize everything, we need this.
+
 argon2-cffi==21.3.0  # https://github.com/hynek/argon2_cffi
 autobahn<25.10.1  # Pin to avoid v25.10.1 that is giving build troubles.
 django-celery-beat  # https://github.com/celery/django-celery-beat