diff --git a/science/uhd/Portfile b/science/uhd/Portfile
index 872d7c0b582..1671427139a 100644
--- a/science/uhd/Portfile
+++ b/science/uhd/Portfile
@@ -325,6 +325,9 @@ set PythonName python${PythonVersionWithDot}
 
 # required Python
 
+depends_build-append \
+    port:py${PythonVersionNoDot}-setuptools
+
 depends_lib-append \
     port:python${PythonVersionNoDot} \
     port:py${PythonVersionNoDot}-mako \