diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 4f4ae337..73c8ad14 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def configure(conf):
         # incorrectly fail on Windows. See my_check_python_headers below.
         conf.my_check_python_headers()
     else:
-        conf.check_python_headers()
+        conf.check_python_headers(features='pyext')
 
     # fetch and save the debug options
     conf.env.debug = conf.options.debug