diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 6ba7047315..b28197b558 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ commands = bash -c "find {toxinidir}             \
 deps =
   -c{env:TOX_CONSTRAINTS_FILE:https://releases.openstack.org/constraints/upper/2024.2}
   -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt
+  setuptools<81
 allowlist_externals = bash
 setenv =
   TOP_DIR={toxinidir}