diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
index f40974263fa..d01bc684f69 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       wrapPythonPrograms
   '';
 
+  pythonPath = [];
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "Utilities to facilitate the installation of Python packages";
     homepage = http://pypi.python.org/pypi/setuptools;