diff --git a/emmet-api/setup.py b/emmet-api/setup.py
index 209f4d161e..2c2bf205ee 100644
--- a/emmet-api/setup.py
+++ b/emmet-api/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     url="https://github.com/materialsproject/emmet",
     packages=find_namespace_packages(include=["emmet.*"]),
     install_requires=[
-        "emmet-core",
+        "emmet-core>=0.78.0rc1",
         "fastapi",
         "gunicorn",
         "boto3",