diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a382b254..b7ab51e7 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ setup(name='fdroidserver',
       data_files=get_data_files(),
       python_requires='>=3.4',
       cmdclass={'versioncheck': VersionCheckCommand},
+      setup_requires=[
+          'babel',
+      ],
       install_requires=[
           'clint',
           'GitPython',