diff --git a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
index 69166cfbf9db0..a0274f60616b2 100644
--- a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
+++ b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ _python_impl_supported() {
 # The path to Python include directory.
 #
 # Set and exported on request using python_export().
+# Requires a proper build-time dependency on the Python implementation.
 #
 # Example value:
 # @CODE
@@ -279,21 +280,13 @@ python_export() {
 				debug-print "${FUNCNAME}: PYTHON_SITEDIR = ${PYTHON_SITEDIR}"
 				;;
 			PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR)
-				local dir
-				case "${impl}" in
-					python*)
-						dir=/usr/include/${impl}
-						;;
-					pypy|pypy3)
-						dir=/usr/$(get_libdir)/${impl}/include
-						;;
-					*)
-						die "${impl} lacks header files"
-						;;
-				esac
-
-				export PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR=${EPREFIX}${dir}
+				export PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR=$("${PYTHON}" -c 'import distutils.sysconfig; print(distutils.sysconfig.get_python_inc())')
 				debug-print "${FUNCNAME}: PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR = ${PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR}"
+
+				# Jython gives a non-existing directory
+				if [[ ! -d ${PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR} ]]; then
+					die "${impl} does not install any header files!"
+				fi
 				;;
 			PYTHON_LIBPATH)
 				local libname
diff --git a/eclass/tests/python-utils-r1.sh b/eclass/tests/python-utils-r1.sh
index bd05e9ebc3c33..dc6676b6ca373 100755
--- a/eclass/tests/python-utils-r1.sh
+++ b/eclass/tests/python-utils-r1.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@ inherit python-utils-r1
 test_var EPYTHON python2_7 python2.7
 test_var PYTHON python2_7 /usr/bin/python2.7
 test_var PYTHON_SITEDIR python2_7 /usr/lib/python2.7/site-packages
-test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR python2_7 /usr/include/python2.7
+if [[ -x /usr/bin/python2.7 ]]; then
+	test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR python2_7 /usr/include/python2.7
+fi
 test_var PYTHON_LIBPATH python2_7 /usr/lib/libpython2.7$(get_libname)
 test_var PYTHON_PKG_DEP python2_7 '*dev-lang/python*:2.7'
 test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR python2_7 /usr/lib/python-exec/python2.7
@@ -72,7 +74,10 @@ test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR python2_7 /usr/lib/python-exec/python2.7
 test_var EPYTHON python3_4 python3.4
 test_var PYTHON python3_4 /usr/bin/python3.4
 test_var PYTHON_SITEDIR python3_4 /usr/lib/python3.4/site-packages
-test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR python3_4 /usr/include/python3.4
+if [[ -x /usr/bin/python3.4 ]]; then
+	abiflags=$(/usr/bin/python3.4 -c 'import sysconfig; print(sysconfig.get_config_var("ABIFLAGS"))')
+	test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR python3_4 "/usr/include/python3.4${abiflags}"
+fi
 test_var PYTHON_LIBPATH python3_4 /usr/lib/libpython3.4$(get_libname)
 test_var PYTHON_PKG_DEP python3_4 '*dev-lang/python*:3.4'
 test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR python3_4 /usr/lib/python-exec/python3.4
@@ -86,14 +91,18 @@ test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR jython2_7 /usr/lib/python-exec/jython2.7
 test_var EPYTHON pypy pypy
 test_var PYTHON pypy /usr/bin/pypy
 test_var PYTHON_SITEDIR pypy /usr/lib/pypy/site-packages
-test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR pypy /usr/lib/pypy/include
+if [[ -x /usr/bin/pypy ]]; then
+	test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR pypy "/usr/lib*/pypy/include"
+fi
 test_var PYTHON_PKG_DEP pypy '*virtual/pypy*:0='
 test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR pypy /usr/lib/python-exec/pypy
 
 test_var EPYTHON pypy3 pypy3
 test_var PYTHON pypy3 /usr/bin/pypy3
 test_var PYTHON_SITEDIR pypy3 /usr/lib/pypy3/site-packages
-test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR pypy3 /usr/lib/pypy3/include
+if [[ -x /usr/bin/pypy3 ]]; then
+	test_var PYTHON_INCLUDEDIR pypy3 /usr/lib/pypy3/include
+fi
 test_var PYTHON_PKG_DEP pypy3 '*virtual/pypy3*:0='
 test_var PYTHON_SCRIPTDIR pypy3 /usr/lib/python-exec/pypy3