diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 3368bb72..3af55a39 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
     "sphinxarg.ext",  # argparse
     "sphinxcontrib.bibtex",  # for foot-citations
     "recommonmark",  # markdown parser
+    "sphinx_build_compatibility.extension"  # compatibility until we adopt addon system
 ]
 
 if LooseVersion(sphinx.__version__) < LooseVersion("1.4"):
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 0eb3197f..eb03cd50 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ doc =
     sphinx-gallery
     sphinx_rtd_theme>=1.3.0
     sphinxcontrib-bibtex
+    git+https://github.com/readthedocs/sphinx-build-compatibility#egg=sphinx-build-compatibility
 tests =
     coverage
     coveralls