diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index a3d33294..fd497747 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ doc_files = LICENSE
 
 [global]
 setup-hooks =
+    pbr.hooks.setup_hook
     ryu.hooks.setup_hook
 
 [entry_points]
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index adf31fab..6df305e6 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -16,10 +16,14 @@
 
 import setuptools
 import os
-from ryu import version
 
 
-os.environ["PBR_VERSION"] = str(version)
+# the latest versions of pbr generate scripts which don't support
+# multiversion.  to avoid importing modules from older multiversion-aware
+# installations of ryu, we prefer multiversion-aware scripts.
+PBR_VERSION = '0.5.19'
+
+os.environ["PBR_VERSION"] = PBR_VERSION
 setuptools.setup(name='ryu',
-                 setup_requires=['pbr'],
+                 setup_requires=['pbr==%s' % (PBR_VERSION,)],
                  pbr=True)