diff --git a/redbot/launcher.py b/redbot/launcher.py
index 0188d9da0..53bb71ac5 100644
--- a/redbot/launcher.py
+++ b/redbot/launcher.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ INTRO = "==========================\nRed Discord Bot - Launcher\n===============
 IS_WINDOWS = os.name == "nt"
 IS_MAC = sys.platform == "darwin"
 
-PYTHON_OK = sys.version_info >= MIN_PYTHON_VERSION
+PYTHON_OK = sys.version_info >= MIN_PYTHON_VERSION or os.getenv("READTHEDOCS", False)
 
 
 def is_venv():
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 9522f43b7..2297ea232 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 from setuptools import setup
+import os
 
-# Metadata and options defined in setup.cfg
-setup()
+if os.getenv("READTHEDOCS", False):
+    setup(python_requires=">=3.7")
+else:
+    # Metadata and options defined in setup.cfg
+    setup()