diff --git a/octoprint_tailscale_funnel/setup.py b/octoprint_tailscale_funnel/setup.py
index 20f7801..0ef0b88 100644
--- a/octoprint_tailscale_funnel/setup.py
+++ b/octoprint_tailscale_funnel/setup.py
@@ -88,7 +88,18 @@ setup_parameters = octoprint_setuptools.create_plugin_setup_parameters(
 )
 
 if len(additional_setup_parameters):
-    from octoprint.util import dict_merge
+    try:
+        from octoprint.util import dict_merge
+    except Exception:
+        # Fallback to allow building without the octoprint package installed
+        def dict_merge(a, b):
+            result = dict(a)
+            for k, v in b.items():
+                if k in result and isinstance(result[k], dict) and isinstance(v, dict):
+                    result[k] = dict_merge(result[k], v)
+                else:
+                    result[k] = v
+            return result
     setup_parameters = dict_merge(setup_parameters, additional_setup_parameters)
 
 setup(**setup_parameters)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8cfc1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+setuptools>=68
+wheel>=0.41
+build>=1.0
+packaging>=23
+octoprint_setuptools>=1.7.0
+
diff --git a/scripts/build_plugin.sh b/scripts/build_plugin.sh
index 14acf18..7d1e90f 100755
--- a/scripts/build_plugin.sh
+++ b/scripts/build_plugin.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@ if [[ ! -x "$VENV_DIR/bin/python" ]]; then
   python3 -m venv "$VENV_DIR"
 fi
 
-"$VENV_DIR/bin/pip" install -q --upgrade pip setuptools wheel build packaging octoprint_setuptools
+if [[ -f "$ROOT_DIR/requirements.txt" ]]; then
+  "$VENV_DIR/bin/pip" install -q --upgrade pip
+  "$VENV_DIR/bin/pip" install -q -r "$ROOT_DIR/requirements.txt"
+else
+  "$VENV_DIR/bin/pip" install -q --upgrade pip setuptools wheel build packaging octoprint_setuptools
+fi
 
 # Optional: bump version
 if [[ -n "$VERSION_INPUT" ]]; then