diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/check.py b/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
index c72914952e1..d164f3f5279 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class check(Command):
         if self.metadata:
             self.check_metadata()
         if self.restructuredtext:
-            if docutils:
+            if HAS_DOCUTILS:
                 self.check_restructuredtext()
             elif self.strict:
                 raise DistutilsSetupError('The docutils package is needed.')
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_check.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_check.py
index 443fa35baff..5e0c453140e 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_check.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_check.py
@@ -85,6 +85,13 @@ class CheckTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
         cmd.check_restructuredtext()
         self.assertEquals(cmd._warnings, 0)
 
+    def test_check_all(self):
+
+        metadata = {'url': 'xxx', 'author': 'xxx'}
+        self.assertRaises(DistutilsSetupError, self._run,
+                          {}, **{'strict': 1,
+                                 'restructuredtext': 1})
+
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(CheckTestCase)