diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 6d057a9a..fa8374ff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install setuptools
           pip install git+https://github.com/PennyLaneAI/pennylane.git
           pip install -r requirements-ci.txt
           pip install wheel pytest pytest-cov pytest-mock flaky --upgrade
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install Plugin
         run: |
+          pip install pkg_resources
           python setup.py bdist_wheel
           pip install dist/PennyLane*.whl
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f4cabd8c..2b630dab 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
     "qiskit-ibm-provider",
     "pennylane>=0.38",
     "numpy",
-    "setuptools",
     "sympy<1.13",
     "networkx>=2.2",
 ]