diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
index acf6524..bb12b70 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -104,9 +104,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install package with dev deps
         run: |
-          # http-ece's build-time dep on cryptography fails under PEP 517
-          # isolation on this runner image — install it without isolation
-          # first so the editable install below finds it already built.
+          # http-ece doesn't declare setuptools as a build dep, and uv
+          # creates bare venvs without it. Install setuptools first so
+          # --no-build-isolation can find it.
+          uv pip install --python /opt/venv/bin/python setuptools wheel
           uv pip install --python /opt/venv/bin/python --no-build-isolation http-ece
           uv pip install --python /opt/venv/bin/python -e ".[dev]"