diff --git a/base_requirements.txt b/base_requirements.txt
index ab33b1c06..0438d8025 100644
--- a/base_requirements.txt
+++ b/base_requirements.txt
@@ -102,7 +102,3 @@ redis
 # SVG image rendering (used for rack elevations)
 # https://github.com/mozman/svgwrite
 svgwrite
-
-# Python package management tool
-# https://pythonwheels.com/
-wheel
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index d8e704874..758d2d98b 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -24,4 +24,3 @@ pycryptodome==3.9.4
 PyYAML==5.3
 redis==3.3.11
 svgwrite==1.3.1
-wheel==0.34.2
diff --git a/upgrade.sh b/upgrade.sh
index bd1a06f67..fe1df715b 100755
--- a/upgrade.sh
+++ b/upgrade.sh
@@ -29,9 +29,14 @@ eval $COMMAND || {
 # Activate the virtual environment
 source "${VIRTUALENV}/bin/activate"
 
+# Install necessary system packages
+COMMAND="pip3 install wheel"
+echo "Installing Python system packages ($COMMAND)..."
+eval $COMMAND || exit 1
+
 # Install Python packages
 COMMAND="pip3 install -r requirements.txt"
-echo "Installing Python packages ($COMMAND)..."
+echo "Installing dependencies ($COMMAND)..."
 eval $COMMAND || exit 1
 
 # Apply any database migrations