diff --git a/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk b/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
index fc2995979d..e678565bdf 100644
--- a/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
+++ b/package/libdnet/libdnet.mk
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ LIBDNET_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBDNET_PYTHON),y)
 LIBDNET_DEPENDENCIES += libbsd host-python-cython python3
 LIBDNET_CONF_OPTS += --with-python=$(HOST_DIR)/bin
-LIBDNET_MAKE_ENV += $(PKG_PYTHON_DISTUTILS_ENV)
+LIBDNET_MAKE_ENV += $(PKG_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS_ENV)
 LIBDNET_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = $(LIBDNET_MAKE_OPTS) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s install-exec
 LIBDNET_INSTALL_STAGING_OPTS = $(LIBDNET_MAKE_OPTS) DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) install
 endif