diff --git a/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-3.0.9.ebuild b/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-3.0.9.ebuild
index 9b107bd9beb53..644bdda69629b 100644
--- a/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-3.0.9.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-3.0.9.ebuild
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{6,7,8} )
+DISTUTILS_USE_SETUPTOOLS=no
 
 inherit distutils-r1 ${SRC_ECLASS}
 
diff --git a/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-9999.ebuild b/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-9999.ebuild
index 9b107bd9beb53..644bdda69629b 100644
--- a/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-9999.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/catalyst/catalyst-9999.ebuild
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python3_{6,7,8} )
+DISTUTILS_USE_SETUPTOOLS=no
 
 inherit distutils-r1 ${SRC_ECLASS}