diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
index ca586268a30..67474025d3a 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ class utilTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         os.path.splitdrive = self.splitdrive
         if self.uname is not None:
             os.uname = self.uname
+        else:
+            del os.uname
 
     def _set_uname(self, uname):
         self._uname = uname
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b870bcf0522..70ad5e27027 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #5472: Fixed distutils.test_util tear down. Original patch by
+  Tim Golden.
+
 - collections.deque() objects now have a read-only attribute called maxlen.
 
 - Issue #2638: Show a window constructed with tkSimpleDialog.Dialog only after