diff --git a/slave/setup.py b/slave/setup.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100755
--- a/slave/setup.py
+++ b/slave/setup.py
@@ -133,9 +133,10 @@ else:
             'pyflakes',
         ],
     }
-    setup_args['setup_requires'] = [
-        'setuptools_trial',
-    ]
+    if '--help-commands' in sys.argv or 'trial' in sys.argv or 'test' in sys.argv:
+        setup_args['setup_requires'] = [
+            'setuptools_trial',
+        ]
 
     if os.getenv('NO_INSTALL_REQS'):
         setup_args['install_requires'] = None
require setuptools_trial on slave only if tests/help command requested