diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 9892ab52..479ff04f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -204,63 +204,16 @@ def build_extensions(self):
         self.check_extensions_list(self.extensions)
         for ext in self.extensions:
             with_ext = self.distribution.ext_status(ext)
-            if with_ext is None:
-                with_ext = self.check_extension_availability(ext)
-            if not with_ext:
+            if with_ext is not None and not with_ext:
                 continue
             if with_cython:
                 ext.sources = self.cython_sources(ext.sources, ext)
-            self.build_extension(ext)
-
-    def check_extension_availability(self, ext):
-        cache = os.path.join(self.build_temp, 'check_%s.out' % ext.feature_name)
-        if not self.force and os.path.isfile(cache):
-            data = open(cache).read().strip()
-            if data == '1':
-                return True
-            elif data == '0':
-                return False
-        mkpath(self.build_temp)
-        src = os.path.join(self.build_temp, 'check_%s.c' % ext.feature_name)
-        open(src, 'w').write(ext.feature_check)
-        log.info("checking if %s is compilable" % ext.feature_name)
-        try:
-            [obj] = self.compiler.compile([src],
-                    macros=ext.define_macros+[(undef,) for undef in ext.undef_macros],
-                    include_dirs=ext.include_dirs,
-                    extra_postargs=(ext.extra_compile_args or []),
-                    depends=ext.depends)
-        except CompileError:
-            log.warn("")
-            log.warn("%s is not found or a compiler error: forcing --%s"
-                     % (ext.feature_name, ext.neg_option_name))
-            log.warn("(if %s is installed correctly, you may need to"
-                    % ext.feature_name)
-            log.warn(" specify the option --include-dirs or uncomment and")
-            log.warn(" modify the parameter include_dirs in setup.cfg)")
-            open(cache, 'w').write('0\n')
-            return False
-        prog = 'check_%s' % ext.feature_name
-        log.info("checking if %s is linkable" % ext.feature_name)
-        try:
-            self.compiler.link_executable([obj], prog,
-                    output_dir=self.build_temp,
-                    libraries=ext.libraries,
-                    library_dirs=ext.library_dirs,
-                    runtime_library_dirs=ext.runtime_library_dirs,
-                    extra_postargs=(ext.extra_link_args or []))
-        except LinkError:
-            log.warn("")
-            log.warn("%s is not found or a linker error: forcing --%s"
-                     % (ext.feature_name, ext.neg_option_name))
-            log.warn("(if %s is installed correctly, you may need to"
-                    % ext.feature_name)
-            log.warn(" specify the option --library-dirs or uncomment and")
-            log.warn(" modify the parameter library_dirs in setup.cfg)")
-            open(cache, 'w').write('0\n')
-            return False
-        open(cache, 'w').write('1\n')
-        return True
+            try:
+                self.build_extension(ext)
+            except (CompileError, LinkError):
+                if with_ext is not None:
+                    raise
+                log.warn("Error compiling module, falling back to pure Python")
 
 
 class bdist_rpm(_bdist_rpm):
@@ -342,4 +295,3 @@ def run(self):
         distclass=Distribution,
         cmdclass=cmdclass,
     )
-