diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5f73900c8..4c562f51f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 from setuptools import setup, Extension
 from setuptools.command.build_ext import build_ext
-from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 
 class CMakeExtension(Extension):
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ def __init__(self, name, sourcedir=""):
 class CMakeBuild(build_ext):
     def run(self):
         try:
-            out = subprocess.check_output(["cmake", "--version"])
+            subprocess.check_output(["cmake", "--version"])
         except OSError:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 "CMake must be installed to build"
@@ -27,13 +26,6 @@ def run(self):
                 + ", ".join(e.name for e in self.extensions)
             )
 
-        if platform.system() == "Windows":
-            cmake_version = LooseVersion(
-                re.search(r"version\s*([\d.]+)", out.decode()).group(1)
-            )
-            if cmake_version < "3.1.0":
-                raise RuntimeError("CMake >= 3.1.0 is required on Windows")
-
         for ext in self.extensions:
             self.build_extension(ext)