diff --git a/Misc/ACKS b/Misc/ACKS
index e00f88311f4..2e254308603 100644
--- a/Misc/ACKS
+++ b/Misc/ACKS
@@ -592,6 +592,7 @@ 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 4fd4f174ac1..182942abfd8 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -977,6 +977,9 @@ IDLE
 Build
 -----
 
+- Issue #16537: Check whether self.extensions is empty in setup.py. Patch by
+  Jonathan Hosmer.
+
 - Issue #22359: Remove incorrect uses of recursive make.  Patch by Jonas
   Wagner.
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 016c4556892..a0a22a5f9dc 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -263,7 +263,9 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
         for ext in self.extensions:
             self.check_extension_import(ext)
 
-        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 or self.failed_on_import:
             all_failed = self.failed + self.failed_on_import
             longest = max(longest, max([len(name) for name in all_failed]))