diff --git a/sdks/python/setup.py b/sdks/python/setup.py
index 96c7f6883b838..a229faf44e3db 100644
--- a/sdks/python/setup.py
+++ b/sdks/python/setup.py
@@ -307,7 +307,6 @@ def run(self):
     ]),
     install_requires=REQUIRED_PACKAGES,
     python_requires=python_requires,
-    setup_requires=['pytest_runner'],
     extras_require={
         'docs': ['Sphinx>=1.5.2,<2.0'],
         'test': REQUIRED_TEST_PACKAGES,