diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/config.py b/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
index d74aa6a2775..88b15866079 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
@@ -346,7 +346,8 @@ class config (Command):
         exists and can be found by the preprocessor; return true if so,
         false otherwise.
         """
-        return self.try_cpp(headers=[header], include_dirs=include_dirs)
+        return self.try_cpp(body="/* No body */", headers=[header],
+                            include_dirs=include_dirs)
 
 
 # class config