diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 021b9a1..175529d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ def get_version():
         version += f"a{alpha}"
     return version
 
+def get_requirements(requirements_filename: str):
+    requirements_file = path.join(path.abspath(path.dirname(__file__)),
+                                  requirements_filename)
+    with open(requirements_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as r:
+        requirements = r.readlines()
+    requirements = [r.strip() for r in requirements if r.strip()
+                    and not r.strip().startswith("#")]
+    if 'MYCROFT_LOOSE_REQUIREMENTS' in os.environ:
+        print('USING LOOSE REQUIREMENTS!')
+        requirements = [r.replace('==', '>=').replace('~=', '>=') for r in requirements]
+    return requirements
 
 setup(
     name=PYPI_NAME,
@@ -67,6 +78,7 @@ def get_version():
     package_dir={SKILL_PKG: ""},
     package_data={SKILL_PKG: find_resource_files()},
     packages=[SKILL_PKG],
+    install_requires=get_requirements('requirements.txt'),
     include_package_data=True,
     keywords='ovos skill plugin',
     entry_points={'ovos.plugin.skill': PLUGIN_ENTRY_POINT}