diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index bb120e545ba..48ce4bdfd0f 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ What's New in Python 3.7.0 alpha 1
 Core and Builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Issue #28918: Fix the cross compilation of xxlimited when Python has been
+  built with Py_DEBUG defined.
+
 - Issue #5322: Fixed setting __new__ to a PyCFunction inside Python code.
   Original patch by Andreas Stührk.
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index bdccf8491ea..baa9cef23a9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1631,7 +1631,7 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
 ##         ext = Extension('xx', ['xxmodule.c'])
 ##         self.extensions.append(ext)
 
-        if 'd' not in sys.abiflags:
+        if 'd' not in sysconfig.get_config_var('ABIFLAGS'):
             ext = Extension('xxlimited', ['xxlimited.c'],
                             define_macros=[('Py_LIMITED_API', '0x03050000')])
             self.extensions.append(ext)