index b3ab64af4..293eb1f80 100644
--- a/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/python/setup.py.in
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import sys
 import os
 import platform
 from distutils.core import setup, Extension
-from distutils import sysconfig
+import sysconfig
 from distutils.cmd import Command
 
 __PACKAGE_VERSION__ = "0.2.0"
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def _init_posix(init):
     Forces g++ instead of gcc on most systems
     credits to eric jones (eric@enthought.com) (found at Google Groups)
     """
-    def wrapper():
-        init()
+    def wrapper(vars):
+        init(vars)
 
         config_vars = sysconfig.get_config_vars()  # by reference
         if config_vars["MACHDEP"].startswith("sun"):