diff --git a/docker/main/ngen/Dockerfile b/docker/main/ngen/Dockerfile
index 8fd605e13..6bedbd2f6 100644
--- a/docker/main/ngen/Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/main/ngen/Dockerfile
@@ -507,7 +507,8 @@ RUN if [ "${NGEN_WITH_ROUTING}" == "ON" ]; then \
       && python3 -m build . \
       && cp dist/*.whl ${WORKDIR}/t-route/wheels/ \
       && cd ${WORKDIR}/t-route/src/troute-nwm \
-      && python3 setup.py bdist_wheel \
+      # troute-nwm doesn't use setup.py ... use build to make the wheel; see https://github.com/NOAA-OWP/t-route/pull/784 \
+      && python3 -m build . \
       && cp dist/*.whl ${WORKDIR}/t-route/wheels/ ; \
     fi
 
@@ -932,4 +933,4 @@ USER root
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir "git+https://github.com/noaa-owp/ngen-cal@${NGEN_CAL_COMMIT:-${NGEN_CAL_BRANCH}}#egg=ngen_cal&subdirectory=python/ngen_cal"
 
 USER ${USER}
-RUN chmod +x ${WORKDIR}/entrypoint.sh
\ No newline at end of file
+RUN chmod +x ${WORKDIR}/entrypoint.sh