diff --git a/.readthedocs.yaml b/.readthedocs.yaml
index ef391bbd67e..81cc6394785 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yaml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yaml
@@ -9,9 +9,14 @@ build:
   os: ubuntu-22.04
   tools:
     python: "3.11"
-  jobs:
-    pre_build:
+  commands:
+      - python -mvirtualenv $READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH
+      - python -m pip install --upgrade --no-cache-dir pip setuptools
+      - python -m pip install --upgrade --no-cache-dir sphinx readthedocs-sphinx-ext
+      - python -m pip install --exists-action=w --no-cache-dir -r docs/api_reference/requirements.txt
       - python docs/api_reference/create_api_rst.py
+      - cat docs/api_reference/conf.py
+      - python -m sphinx -T -E -b html -d _build/doctrees -c docs/api_reference docs/api_reference $READTHEDOCS_OUTPUT/html -j auto
 
 # Build documentation in the docs/ directory with Sphinx
 sphinx: