diff --git a/bob/devtools/build.py b/bob/devtools/build.py
index 4cf8d24c02290d5bcac5dd4544fe7f8b28e78b91..bf1ed405dd1d641cc1e6308ddc47f3bcd0ab1c76 100644
--- a/bob/devtools/build.py
+++ b/bob/devtools/build.py
@@ -290,7 +290,8 @@ def parse_dependencies(recipe_dir, config):
         + remove_pins(recipe["requirements"].get("host", []))
         + recipe["requirements"].get("run", [])
         + recipe.get("test", {}).get("requires", [])
-        + ["bob.buildout", "mr.developer", "ipdb"]
+        + ["bob.buildout"]  #required for basic bootstrap of most recipes
+        + ["ipython"]  #for ipdb
         # Also add anaconda compilers to make sure source installed packages are
         # compiled properly
         + ["clangxx_osx-64" if platform.system() == "Darwin" else "gxx_linux-64"]