diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2f1dc25f..ec18c338 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ setup(name = 'GPy',
       include_package_data = True,
       py_modules = ['GPy.__init__'],
       test_suite = 'GPy.testing',
+      setup_requires = ['numpy>=1.7'],
       install_requires = ['numpy>=1.7', 'scipy>=0.16', 'six', 'paramz>=0.6.9'],
       extras_require = {'docs':['sphinx'],
                         'optional':['mpi4py',