diff --git a/requirements-py3.txt b/requirements-py3.txt
index 18927238e..32739dbc0 100644
--- a/requirements-py3.txt
+++ b/requirements-py3.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ eventlet>=0.17.3
 PyYAML>=3.1.0
 
 # rabbit driver is the default
+# we set the amqp version to ensure heartbeat works
+amqp>=1.4.0
 kombu>=3.0.7
 
 # middleware
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index bd6eafc09..a6373a46f 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ eventlet>=0.17.3
 PyYAML>=3.1.0
 
 # rabbit driver is the default
+# we set the amqp version to ensure heartbeat works
+amqp>=1.4.0
 kombu>=3.0.7
 
 # middleware