diff --git a/Misc/ACKS b/Misc/ACKS
index 18216828288..f077ff77cdc 100644
--- a/Misc/ACKS
+++ b/Misc/ACKS
@@ -588,6 +588,7 @@ Randall Hopper
 Nadav Horesh
 Alon Horev
 Jan Hosang
+Jonathan Hosmer
 Alan Hourihane
 Ken Howard
 Brad Howes
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 0b8ba0c1054..564750451b6 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ Library
 - Issue #22448: Improve canceled timer handles cleanup to prevent
   unbound memory usage. Patch by Joshua Moore-Oliva.
 
+Build
+-----
+
+- Issue #16537: Check whether self.extensions is empty in setup.py. Patch by
+  Jonathan Hosmer.
+
 
 What's New in Python 3.4.2?
 ===========================
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5d4f44465a8..6f6da7156c3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -252,7 +252,9 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
 
         build_ext.build_extensions(self)
 
-        longest = max([len(e.name) for e in self.extensions])
+        longest = 0
+        if self.extensions:
+            longest = max([len(e.name) for e in self.extensions])
         if self.failed:
             longest = max(longest, max([len(name) for name in self.failed]))