diff --git a/core/setup.py b/core/setup.py
index d98c766d02f..e49ad973568 100644
--- a/core/setup.py
+++ b/core/setup.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
         # with major versions in each new minor version of dbt-core.
         "click>=8.0.2,<9.0",
         "networkx>=2.3,<4.0",
+        "protobuf>=4.0.0,<5",
         "requests<3.0.0",  # should match dbt-common
         # ----
         # These packages are major-version-0. Keep upper bounds on upcoming minor versions (which could have breaking changes)
@@ -79,7 +80,6 @@
         # ----
         # Expect compatibility with all new versions of these packages, so lower bounds only.
         "packaging>20.9",
-        "protobuf>=4.0.0,<5",
         "pytz>=2015.7",
         "pyyaml>=6.0",
         "daff>=1.3.46",