diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 37224b6f54..dc2a956cb5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ opentimelineio = [
     { git = "https://github.com/pypeclub/OpenTimelineIO.git", branch="develop", markers = "sys_platform == 'win32'" },
     { git = "https://github.com/PixarAnimationStudios/OpenTimelineIO.git", markers = "sys_platform == 'darwin'" }
 ]
-
 appdirs = "^1.4.3"
 blessed = "^1.17" # pype terminal formatting
 clique = "1.5.*"
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ pynput = "^1.7.2" # idle manager in tray
 pymongo = "^3.11.2"
 pyqt5 = "^5.12.2" # ideally should be replaced with PySide2
 "Qt.py" = "^1.3.3"
-setuptools = "45.0.0" # explicit lock for python 2 compatibility in nuke
 speedcopy = "^2.1"
 six = "^1.15"
 wsrpc_aiohttp = "^3.1.1" # websocket server