diff --git a/dev-python/cffi/cffi-1.13.2.ebuild b/dev-python/cffi/cffi-1.13.2.ebuild
index d4b10421eed08..c3db6ba5ad92d 100644
--- a/dev-python/cffi/cffi-1.13.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/cffi/cffi-1.13.2.ebuild
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ EAPI=7
 
 # DO NOT ADD pypy to PYTHON_COMPAT
 # pypy bundles a modified version of cffi. Use python_gen_cond_dep instead.
+DISTUTILS_USE_SETUPTOOLS=rdepend
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python2_7 python3_{6,7,8} )
 
 inherit distutils-r1 toolchain-funcs