diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
index 3ab2d04bf98..acbe648036f 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ class build_ext(Command):
         # Python's library directory must be appended to library_dirs
         # See Issues: #1600860, #4366
         if (sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')):
-            if sys.executable.startswith(os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, "bin")):
+            if not sysconfig.python_build:
                 # building third party extensions
                 self.library_dirs.append(sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR'))
             else:
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index ffb852f2747..8602e8d7bfd 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ Build
 
 - Issue #18096: Fix library order returned by python-config.
 
+- Issue #17219: Add library build dir for Python extension cross-builds.
+
 
 What's New in Python 3.4.2?
 ===========================