diff --git a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-1.5.0.ebuild b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-1.5.0.ebuild
index c1a2fc6588812..3bde29fa60537 100644
--- a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-1.5.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-1.5.0.ebuild
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ DISTUTILS_IN_SOURCE_BUILD=1
 
 pkg_setup() {
 	unset DISPLAY # bug #278524
+	use doc && DISTUTILS_ALL_SUBPHASE_IMPLS=( python2.7 )
 }
 
 use_setup() {
diff --git a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-9999.ebuild b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-9999.ebuild
index bad2f740c7aea..59cad2227932b 100644
--- a/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-9999.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/matplotlib/matplotlib-9999.ebuild
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ DISTUTILS_IN_SOURCE_BUILD=1
 
 pkg_setup() {
 	unset DISPLAY # bug #278524
+	use doc && DISTUTILS_ALL_SUBPHASE_IMPLS=( python2.7 )
 }
 
 use_setup() {