diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
index 97e77a279d3..50b73aaf8f6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       mkdir -p $dst
       PYTHONPATH=$dst:$PYTHONPATH
       python setup.py install --prefix=$out
-      # remove generic files, leave setuptools.pth
-      rm $dst/site.py*
-      rm $dst/easy-install.pth
       wrapPythonPrograms
     '';