diff --git a/python-pip.spec b/python-pip.spec
index c02f8ac..45106d4 100644
--- a/python-pip.spec
+++ b/python-pip.spec
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ Packages" or "Pip Installs Python".
 Summary:        A tool for installing and managing Python3 packages
 
 BuildRequires:  python%{python3_pkgversion}-devel
+# python3 bootstrap: this is rebuilt before the final build of python3, which
+# adds the dependency on python3-rpm-generators, so we require it manually
+BuildRequires:  python%{python3_pkgversion}-rpm-generators
 BuildRequires:  python%{python3_pkgversion}-setuptools
 BuildRequires:  bash-completion
 %if %{with tests}