diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b9bc17e42f4..d6ef424b5fa 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     extras_require={
         # req usage, please see https://docarray.jina.ai/#install
         'common': [
-            'protobuf>=3.13.0',
+            'protobuf>=3.13.0,<=3.20.1',
             'lz4',
             'requests',
             'matplotlib',
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
             'uvicorn',
         ],
         'full': [
-            'protobuf>=3.13.0',
+            'protobuf>=3.13.0,<=3.20.1',
             'lz4',
             'requests',
             'matplotlib',