diff --git a/.readthedocs.yaml b/.readthedocs.yaml
index 217a2ebc..5c4b4c78 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yaml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,5 @@ build:
   tools:
     python: '3.11'
   commands:
-    - pip install -e .  # install the package itself
-    - pip install sphinx sphinx-rtd-theme pallets_sphinx_themes  # install doc dependencies
+    - pip install -r requirements.txt
     - sphinx-build -b dirhtml docs $READTHEDOCS_OUTPUT/html
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..50e7ce50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+sphinx
+sphinx-rtd-theme
+pallets_sphinx_themes
+sphinxcontrib-log-cabinet
+