diff --git a/CHANGES/6205.bugfix b/CHANGES/6205.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eaf5712cead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/6205.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added requirement for compatible ``setuptools`` version.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index acccf615c8a..e68da08b00c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = [
+    "setuptools>=46.4.0",
+]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
 [tool.towncrier]
 package = "aiohttp"
 filename = "CHANGES.rst"