diff --git a/python/datafed_pkg/setup.py b/python/datafed_pkg/setup.py
index 897b8326..c606d266 100644
--- a/python/datafed_pkg/setup.py
+++ b/python/datafed_pkg/setup.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     packages=setuptools.find_packages(),
     setup_requires=["setuptools"],
     install_requires=[
-        "protobuf>=3",
+        "protobuf>=3, <=3.20",
         "pyzmq>=16",
         "wget>=3",
         "click>=7",