diff --git a/dev-python/python-backoff/python-backoff-1.6.0.ebuild b/dev-python/python-backoff/python-backoff-1.6.0.ebuild
index 43b9e0eac4ad5..07504e8a9c026 100644
--- a/dev-python/python-backoff/python-backoff-1.6.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/python-backoff/python-backoff-1.6.0.ebuild
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 EAPI=6
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{6,7} )
+DISTUTILS_USE_SETUPTOOLS=no
 
 inherit distutils-r1