diff --git a/dev-python/pillow/pillow-4.3.0-r2.ebuild b/dev-python/pillow/pillow-4.3.0-r2.ebuild
index e6169726869f4..25dddfce611f6 100644
--- a/dev-python/pillow/pillow-4.3.0-r2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/pillow/pillow-4.3.0-r2.ebuild
@@ -52,10 +52,11 @@ PATCHES=(
 	"${FILESDIR}"/pillow-4.3.0-freetype2.9-test-metrics.patch
 )
 
-python_compile() {
-	# raqm not in portage yet
-	local args=(
-		--disable-raqm
+python_configure_all() {
+	# It's important that these flags are also passed during the install phase
+	# as well. Make sure of that if you change the lines below. See bug 661308.
+	mydistutilsargs=(
+		build_ext
 		--disable-platform-guessing
 		$(use_enable truetype freetype)
 		$(use_enable jpeg)
@@ -67,7 +68,6 @@ python_compile() {
 		$(use_enable webp webpmux)
 		$(use_enable zlib)
 	)
-	distutils-r1_python_compile build_ext "${args[@]}"
 }
 
 python_compile_all() {
diff --git a/dev-python/pillow/pillow-5.2.0.ebuild b/dev-python/pillow/pillow-5.2.0.ebuild
index ad0c8bde22b62..1476c3915c58d 100644
--- a/dev-python/pillow/pillow-5.2.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/pillow/pillow-5.2.0.ebuild
@@ -46,8 +46,11 @@ DEPEND="${RDEPEND}
 
 S="${WORKDIR}/${MY_P}"
 
-python_compile() {
-	local args=(
+python_configure_all() {
+	# It's important that these flags are also passed during the install phase
+	# as well. Make sure of that if you change the lines below. See bug 661308.
+	mydistutilsargs=(
+		build_ext
 		--disable-platform-guessing
 		$(use_enable truetype freetype)
 		$(use_enable jpeg)
@@ -59,7 +62,6 @@ python_compile() {
 		$(use_enable webp webpmux)
 		$(use_enable zlib)
 	)
-	distutils-r1_python_compile build_ext "${args[@]}"
 }
 
 python_compile_all() {