diff --git a/dev-python/pydevd/pydevd-2.9.5.ebuild b/dev-python/pydevd/pydevd-2.9.5.ebuild
index 8c93d22eebc40..a4b5a7c27f4ba 100644
--- a/dev-python/pydevd/pydevd-2.9.5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/pydevd/pydevd-2.9.5.ebuild
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 
 EAPI=8
 
+DISTUTILS_EXT=1
 DISTUTILS_USE_PEP517=setuptools
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{9..11} )
+
 inherit distutils-r1 toolchain-funcs
 
 MY_P="pydev_debugger_${PV//./_}"