diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5227fd40a53..e45c4d4f195 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -30,13 +30,10 @@ def readme():
     'pandas',
     'tabulate',
     'tqdm',
-    'applicationinsights'
+    'applicationinsights',
+    'dataclasses' # can be removed once we drop support for python 3.6
 ]
 
-if sys.version_info.minor < 7:
-    install_requires.append('dataclasses')
-
-
 setup(name='qcodes',
       version=versioneer.get_version(),
       cmdclass=versioneer.get_cmdclass(),