diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c98f7b4f8f..3d08cbbd94 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 #
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
+import os
 import os.path
 
 BASEDIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ def required(requirements_file):
     """ Read requirements file and remove comments and empty lines. """
     with open(os.path.join(BASEDIR, requirements_file), 'r') as f:
         requirements = f.read().splitlines()
+        if 'MYCROFT_LOOSE_REQUIREMENTS' in os.environ:
+            print('USING LOOSE REQUIREMENTS!')
+            requirements = [r.replace('==', '>=') for r in requirements]
         return [pkg for pkg in requirements
                 if pkg.strip() and not pkg.startswith("#")]