diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 41f085045021..8de6e689b4c3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import os
+import sys
 
 from setuptools import setup
 
@@ -69,6 +70,10 @@
     'google-cloud-runtimeconfig >= 0.24.0, < 0.25dev',
 ]
 
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 6):
+    REQUIREMENTS.insert(0, 'setuptools >= 34.0.0')
+
+
 setup(
     name='google-cloud',
     version='0.24.1',