diff --git a/gnu/packages/python.scm b/gnu/packages/python.scm
index 35d9021165..2f7ae95fa4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python.scm
@@ -1390,6 +1390,7 @@ (define-public scons
     (arguments
      ;; With Python 3.x, fails to build with a syntax error.
      `(#:python ,python-2
+       #:use-setuptools? #f                ; still relies on distutils
        #:tests? #f))                       ; no 'python setup.py test' command
     (home-page "http://scons.org/")
     (synopsis "Software construction tool written in Python")