diff --git a/pythran/run.py b/pythran/run.py
index 720a1f65e..c435fcac5 100644
--- a/pythran/run.py
+++ b/pythran/run.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import pythran
 
 from pythran.errors import PythranSyntaxError, PythranTypeError
-from distutils.errors import CompileError
+from setuptools.errors import CompileError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("pythran")
 
diff --git a/pythran/tests/test_openmp.py b/pythran/tests/test_openmp.py
index 40e6409f2..9018c7ede 100644
--- a/pythran/tests/test_openmp.py
+++ b/pythran/tests/test_openmp.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import unittest
-from distutils.errors import CompileError
+from setuptools.errors import CompileError
 from pythran.tests import TestFromDir
 import os
 import pythran
diff --git a/pythran/toolchain.py b/pythran/toolchain.py
index 7524fe3ac..cce90cd1b 100644
--- a/pythran/toolchain.py
+++ b/pythran/toolchain.py
@@ -21,12 +21,9 @@
 from pythran.utils import cxxid
 import pythran.frontend as frontend
 
-try:
-    from distutils.errors import CompileError
-    from distutils import sysconfig
-except ImportError:
-    from setuptools.errors import CompileError
-    from setuptools._distutils import sysconfig
+from setuptools.errors import CompileError
+from setuptools._distutils import sysconfig
+
 try:
     # `numpy.distutils is deprecated, may not be present, or broken
     from numpy.distutils.core import setup