diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 39f884081e9..b8bad146170 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
             # Sun yellow pages. Some systems have the functions in libc.
             if (platform not in ['cygwin', 'qnx6'] and
                 find_file('rpcsvc/yp_prot.h', inc_dirs, []) is not None):
-                if (self.compiler_obj.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'nsl')):
+                if (self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'nsl')):
                     libs = ['nsl']
                 else:
                     libs = []