diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8cf31f46..32dd5a1e 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -518,7 +518,10 @@ def make_rpm() -> None:
 
 def sdist() -> None:
     record_vcs_info()
-    from distutils.core import setup
+    try:
+        from setuptools import setup
+    except ImportError:
+        from distutils.core import setup
     setup(
         name="xpra-html5",
         version=VERSION,