diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 428a2bfe7..ec554be56 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
         readme = f.read()
 
 # install_requires = ['xml']
-install_requires=['numpy>=1.14.3', 'monty', 'scipy', 'h5py', 'wcmatch']
+install_requires=['numpy>=1.14.3', 'monty', 'scipy', 'h5py', 'wcmatch', 'importlib_metadata>=1.4; python_version < "3.8"']
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="dpdata",