diff --git a/numpy/random/_examples/cython/setup.py b/numpy/random/_examples/cython/setup.py
index 7e0dd3e057a6..f41150fdb2fe 100644
--- a/numpy/random/_examples/cython/setup.py
+++ b/numpy/random/_examples/cython/setup.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 Usage: python setup.py build_ext -i
 """
+import setuptools  # triggers monkeypatching distutils
 from distutils.core import setup
 from os.path import dirname, join, abspath