diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/bsddb3/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/bsddb3/default.nix
index 4edc9e1524b4..4e617c546985 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/bsddb3/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/bsddb3/default.nix
@@ -1,22 +1,30 @@
 { lib
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
+, setuptools
 , pkgs
 , python
+, pythonOlder
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "bsddb3";
   version = "6.2.9";
-  format = "setuptools";
+  pyproject = true;
 
   src = fetchPypi {
     inherit pname version;
     sha256 = "70d05ec8dc568f42e70fc919a442e0daadc2a905a1cfb7ca77f549d49d6e7801";
   };
 
+  build-system = [
+    setuptools
+  ];
+
   buildInputs = [ pkgs.db ];
 
+  doCheck = pythonOlder "3.12"; # distutils usage
+
   checkPhase = ''
     ${python.interpreter} test.py
   '';