diff --git a/precise/host/hooks/install.d/70-0k.sh b/precise/host/hooks/install.d/70-0k.sh
index 47f66806..07cf6de7 100755
--- a/precise/host/hooks/install.d/70-0k.sh
+++ b/precise/host/hooks/install.d/70-0k.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ mkdir -p /opt/apps
         git checkout 0k/prod/master
     fi
 
-    pip install sact.epoch || exit 1
+    ## Debian 9 did not have setuptool
+    if [ "$(python -c 'import setuptools' 2>&1 | tail -n 1)" == "ImportError: No module named setuptools" ]; then
+        pip install setuptools
+    fi
+    pip install sact.epoch
     if [ "$(python -c 'import sact.epoch' 2>&1 | tail -n 1)" == "ImportError: No module named interface" ]; then
         echo "Error: conflicting installation of zope.interface detected. Trying workaround."
         (