diff --git a/.appveyor.yml b/.appveyor.yml
index 4e53701fc..84e0c7a76 100644
--- a/.appveyor.yml
+++ b/.appveyor.yml
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ install:
   - "python --version"
   - "python -c \"import struct; print(struct.calcsize('P') * 8)\""
 
-  # upgrade pip to avoid out-of-date warnings
-  - "python -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check --user --upgrade pip"
+  # upgrade pip and setuptools to avoid out-of-date warnings
+  - "python -m pip install --disable-pip-version-check --user --upgrade pip setuptools"
   - "python -m pip --version"
 
   # install the dependencies to run the tests