diff --git a/lang/python/python3-host.mk b/lang/python/python3-host.mk
index 9366b78d9e..8a05c332cf 100644
--- a/lang/python/python3-host.mk
+++ b/lang/python/python3-host.mk
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ HOST_PYTHON3_PIP:=$(STAGING_DIR_HOSTPKG)/bin/pip$(PYTHON3_VERSION)
 
 HOST_PYTHON3_PIP_CACHE_DIR:=$(DL_DIR)/pip-cache
 
+define SetupPyShim
+	if [ -f $(1)/pyproject.toml ] && [ ! -f $(1)/setup.py ] ; then \
+		$(CP) $(python3_mk_path)setup.py.shim $(1)setup.py ; \
+	fi
+endef
+
 # Multiple concurrent pip processes can lead to errors or unexpected results: https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/2361
 # $(1) => packages to install
 define HostPython3/PipInstall
@@ -75,8 +81,9 @@ endef
 # $(2) => additional arguments to setup.py
 # $(3) => additional variables
 define HostPython3/ModSetup
+	$(call SetupPyShim,$(HOST_BUILD_DIR)/$(strip $(1)))
 	$(call HostPython3/Run, \
 		$(HOST_BUILD_DIR)/$(strip $(1)), \
 		setup.py $(2), \
-		$(3))
+		$(3) PY_PKG_VERSION=$(PKG_VERSION))
 endef
diff --git a/lang/python/python3-package.mk b/lang/python/python3-package.mk
index c2617f69ce..a24892ac57 100644
--- a/lang/python/python3-package.mk
+++ b/lang/python/python3-package.mk
@@ -62,10 +62,11 @@ endef
 # $(3) => additional variables
 define Python3/ModSetup
 	$(INSTALL_DIR) $(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/$(PYTHON3_PKG_DIR)
+	$(call SetupPyShim,$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/$(strip $(1)))
 	$(call Python3/Run, \
 		$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/$(strip $(1)), \
 		setup.py $(2), \
-		$(3))
+		$(3) PY_PKG_VERSION=$(PKG_VERSION))
 endef
 
 define Python3/FixShebang
diff --git a/lang/python/setup.py.shim b/lang/python/setup.py.shim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b309abc024
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lang/python/setup.py.shim
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import os
+import setuptools
+
+# FIXME: see about getting rid of PY_PKG_VERSION asap when setuptools handles this correctly
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    setuptools.setup(version=os.environ['PY_PKG_VERSION'])