diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 48e0e21c4..20d4aab80 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ requires = [
     "preshed>=3.0.2,<3.1.0",
     "murmurhash>=0.28.0,<1.1.0",
     "thinc>=7.4.1,<7.5.0",
+    "blis>=0.4.0,<0.8.0; python_version >= '3.6'",
+    "blis>=0.4.0,<0.5.0; python_version < '3.6'",
     "numpy==1.15.0; python_version<='3.7'",
     "numpy==1.17.3; python_version=='3.8'",
     "numpy==1.19.3; python_version=='3.9'",
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 4e8164d39..7c921f02c 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ setup_requires =
     preshed>=3.0.2,<3.1.0
     murmurhash>=0.28.0,<1.1.0
     thinc>=7.4.1,<7.5.0
+    blis>=0.4.0,<0.8.0
 install_requires =
     # Our libraries
     murmurhash>=0.28.0,<1.1.0