diff --git a/docs/installation.rst b/docs/installation.rst
--- a/docs/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/installation.rst
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ repository, follow the instructions belo
         cd kallithea
         virtualenv ../kallithea-venv
         source ../kallithea-venv/bin/activate
-        pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
+        pip install --upgrade pip "setuptools<34"
         pip install -e .
         python2 setup.py compile_catalog   # for translation of the UI
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ An additional benefit of virtualenv_ is 
   basic requirements are up-to-date by running::
 
     source /srv/kallithea/venv/bin/activate
-    pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
+    pip install --upgrade pip "setuptools<34"
 
 .. note:: You can't use UNIX ``sudo`` to source the ``virtualenv`` script; it
    will "activate" a shell that terminates immediately. It is also perfectly