diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 427950bcb6d..20db90bd295 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ jobs:
         path: ${{ steps.pip-cache.outputs.dir }}
         restore-keys: |
             pip-ci-${{ runner.os }}-${{ matrix.pyver }}-${{ matrix.no-extensions }}-
+    - name: Upgrade setuptools and wheel  # Needed for proxy.py install not to explode
+      run: pip install -U setuptools wheel
     - name: Cythonize
       if: ${{ matrix.no-extensions == '' }}
       run: |