diff --git a/python/lib/dependabot/python/file_fetcher.rb b/python/lib/dependabot/python/file_fetcher.rb
index d813bdeb1e7..d24f69b2b88 100644
--- a/python/lib/dependabot/python/file_fetcher.rb
+++ b/python/lib/dependabot/python/file_fetcher.rb
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ def fetch_path_setup_file(path, allow_pyproject: false)
               fetch_submodules: true
             ).tap { |f| f.support_file = true }
           rescue Dependabot::DependencyFileNotFound
-            raise unless allow_pyproject
+            raise unless allow_pyproject || setup_cfg_file
 
             fetch_file_from_host(
               path.gsub("setup.py", "pyproject.toml"),