diff --git a/sys-process/iotop/iotop-0.6.ebuild b/sys-process/iotop/iotop-0.6.ebuild
index 99eeef40f9a38..ef6b0b4fdaa6d 100644
--- a/sys-process/iotop/iotop-0.6.ebuild
+++ b/sys-process/iotop/iotop-0.6.ebuild
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ EAPI=7
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{6,7,8} )
 PYTHON_REQ_USE="ncurses(+)"
+DISTUTILS_USE_SETUPTOOLS=no
 
 inherit distutils-r1 linux-info