diff --git a/Lib/distutils/core.py b/Lib/distutils/core.py
index ddd39a2c790..a92bff95736 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/core.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/core.py
@@ -99,8 +99,12 @@ def setup (**attrs):
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             raise SystemExit, "interrupted"
         except IOError, exc:
-            # is this 1.5.2-specific? 1.5-specific?
-            raise SystemExit, "error: %s: %s" % (exc.filename, exc.strerror)
+            # arg, try to work with Python pre-1.5.2
+            if hasattr (exc, 'filename') and hasattr (exc, 'strerror'):
+                raise SystemExit, \
+                      "error: %s: %s" % (exc.filename, exc.strerror)
+            else:
+                raise SystemExit, str (exc)
 
 # setup ()