diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 7e7b060515c..4480d7e09ac 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ Library
 Build
 -----
 
+- Issue #7589: Only build the nis module when the correct header files are
+  found.
+
 - Switch to OpenSSL 0.9.8l on Windows.
 
 - Issue #6603: Change READ_TIMESTAMP macro in ceval.c so that it
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f2540584882..dc46015def6 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
                 missing.append('resource')
 
             # Sun yellow pages. Some systems have the functions in libc.
-            if platform not in ['cygwin', 'atheos', 'qnx6']:
+            if platform not in ['cygwin', 'atheos', 'qnx6'] and find_file('rpcsvc/yp_prot.h', inc_dirs, []) is not None:
                 if (self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'nsl')):
                     libs = ['nsl']
                 else: