diff --git a/package/python-pyalsa/python-pyalsa.mk b/package/python-pyalsa/python-pyalsa.mk
index cc5e2ec9a0..1661fe47b4 100644
--- a/package/python-pyalsa/python-pyalsa.mk
+++ b/package/python-pyalsa/python-pyalsa.mk
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 PYTHON_PYALSA_VERSION = 1.2.7
 PYTHON_PYALSA_SOURCE = pyalsa-$(PYTHON_PYALSA_VERSION).tar.bz2
 PYTHON_PYALSA_SITE = https://www.alsa-project.org/files/pub/pyalsa
-PYTHON_PYALSA_SETUP_TYPE = distutils
+PYTHON_PYALSA_SETUP_TYPE = setuptools
 PYTHON_PYALSA_LICENSE = LGPL-2.1+
 PYTHON_PYALSA_DEPENDENCIES = alsa-lib