diff --git a/dev-python/PyQt5-sip/PyQt5-sip-12.12.0.ebuild b/dev-python/PyQt5-sip/PyQt5-sip-12.12.0.ebuild
index 24995e95473d0..c2e8bc17898f2 100644
--- a/dev-python/PyQt5-sip/PyQt5-sip-12.12.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/PyQt5-sip/PyQt5-sip-12.12.0.ebuild
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 
 EAPI=8
 
-PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{9..11} )
+DISTUTILS_EXT=1
 DISTUTILS_USE_PEP517=setuptools
+PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{9..11} )
+
 inherit distutils-r1
 
 DESCRIPTION="sip extension module for PyQt5"