diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c5b67109..ada32680 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         url="https://github.com/labgem/PPanGGOLiN",
         description="Pangenome analysis suite",
         packages=setuptools.find_packages(),
-        setup_requires=["cython"],
+        setup_requires=["cython<3.0.0"],
         install_requires=[],
         package_data={'': ['rRNA_DB/*cm*']},
         classifiers=["Environment :: Console",