diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7ca824ab01..8d482b8626 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,13 +3,8 @@
 import glob
 import sys
 import numpy as np
-try:
-    from setuptools import setup
-    have_setuptools = True
-except ImportError:
-    from distutils.core import setup
-    have_setuptools = False
 
+from setuptools import setup
 try:
     from Cython.Build import cythonize
     have_cython = True
@@ -28,11 +23,12 @@ else:
 with open('openmc/__init__.py', 'r') as f:
     version = f.readlines()[-1].split()[-1].strip("'")
 
-kwargs = {'name': 'openmc',
-          'version': version,
-          'packages': ['openmc', 'openmc.capi', 'openmc.data', 'openmc.mgxs',
-                       'openmc.model', 'openmc.stats'],
-          'scripts': glob.glob('scripts/openmc-*'),
+kwargs = {
+    'name': 'openmc',
+    'version': version,
+    'packages': ['openmc', 'openmc.capi', 'openmc.data', 'openmc.mgxs',
+                 'openmc.model', 'openmc.stats'],
+    'scripts': glob.glob('scripts/openmc-*'),
 
           # Data files and librarries
           'package_data': {
@@ -42,33 +38,30 @@ kwargs = {'name': 'openmc',
 
           # Metadata
           'author': 'Will Boyd',
-          'author_email': 'wbinventor@gmail.com',
-          'description': 'OpenMC Python API',
-          'url': 'https://github.com/mit-crpg/openmc',
-          'classifiers': [
-              'Intended Audience :: Developers',
-              'Intended Audience :: End Users/Desktop',
-              'Intended Audience :: Science/Research',
-              'License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License',
-              'Natural Language :: English',
-              'Programming Language :: Python',
-              'Topic :: Scientific/Engineering'
-          ]}
+    'author_email': 'wbinventor@gmail.com',
+    'description': 'OpenMC Python API',
+    'url': 'https://github.com/mit-crpg/openmc',
+    'classifiers': [
+        'Intended Audience :: Developers',
+        'Intended Audience :: End Users/Desktop',
+        'Intended Audience :: Science/Research',
+        'License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License',
+        'Natural Language :: English',
+        'Programming Language :: Python',
+        'Topic :: Scientific/Engineering'
+    ],
 
-if have_setuptools:
-    kwargs.update({
-        # Required dependencies
-        'install_requires': ['six', 'numpy>=1.9', 'h5py', 'scipy', 'pandas>=0.17.0'],
+    # Required dependencies
+    'install_requires': ['six', 'numpy>=1.9', 'h5py', 'scipy',
+                         'pandas>=0.17.0', 'lxml'],
 
-        # Optional dependencies
-        'extras_require': {
-            'decay': ['uncertainties'],
-            'plot': ['matplotlib', 'ipython'],
-            'vtk': ['vtk', 'silomesh'],
-            'validate': ['lxml']
-        },
-
-    })
+    # Optional dependencies
+    'extras_require': {
+        'decay': ['uncertainties'],
+        'plot': ['matplotlib', 'ipython'],
+        'vtk': ['vtk', 'silomesh'],
+    },
+}
 
 # If Cython is present, add resonance reconstruction capability
 if have_cython: