diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 67b91c55dd397..11e3494b72561 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -46,8 +46,11 @@ def is_platform_mac():
         __version__ as _CYTHON_VERSION,
     )
     from Cython.Build import cythonize
+    from Cython.Compiler import Options
 
     _CYTHON_INSTALLED = parse_version(_CYTHON_VERSION) >= parse_version(min_cython_ver)
+    Options.docstrings = False
+
 except ImportError:
     _CYTHON_VERSION = None
     _CYTHON_INSTALLED = False