diff --git a/lang/python/Makefile.am b/lang/python/Makefile.am
index 2271ce0b..1d7aee8b 100644
--- a/lang/python/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/python/Makefile.am
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ copystamp: $(COPY_FILES) $(COPY_FILES_PYME)
 all-local: copystamp
 	for PYTHON in $(PYTHONS); do \
 	  CFLAGS="$(CFLAGS) -I$(top_srcdir)" \
+	  top_builddir="$(top_builddir)" \
 	    $$PYTHON setup.py build --verbose ; \
 	done
 
diff --git a/lang/python/gpgme.i b/lang/python/gpgme.i
index 84addae2..a4672e13 100644
--- a/lang/python/gpgme.i
+++ b/lang/python/gpgme.i
@@ -547,6 +547,10 @@
    some structs, which we provide prior to including the version for
    SWIG.  */
 %{
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <gpgme.h>
 %}
 
@@ -575,6 +579,10 @@ struct _gpgme_sig_notation
 
 /* Now include our local modified version.  Any structs defined above
    are ignored.  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+%include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 %include "gpgme.h"
 
 %include "errors.i"
diff --git a/lang/python/helpers.c b/lang/python/helpers.c
index f9aec91f..3724752f 100644
--- a/lang/python/helpers.c
+++ b/lang/python/helpers.c
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 #    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307  USA
 */
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <gpgme.h>
diff --git a/lang/python/helpers.h b/lang/python/helpers.h
index 9200f937..67d23b2e 100644
--- a/lang/python/helpers.h
+++ b/lang/python/helpers.h
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 #    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307  USA
 */
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <gpgme.h>
 #include "Python.h"
 
diff --git a/lang/python/setup.py.in b/lang/python/setup.py.in
index 31892c1b..7af2d485 100755
--- a/lang/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/lang/python/setup.py.in
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ gpg_error_config = ["gpg-error-config"]
 gpgme_config_flags = ["--thread=pthread"]
 gpgme_config = ["gpgme-config"] + gpgme_config_flags
 gpgme_h = ""
+include_dirs = [os.getcwd()]
 library_dirs = []
 in_tree = False
 extra_swig_opts = []
@@ -38,8 +39,13 @@ if os.path.exists("../../src/gpgme-config"):
     in_tree = True
     gpgme_config = ["../../src/gpgme-config"] + gpgme_config_flags
     gpgme_h = "../../src/gpgme.h"
+    if 'top_builddir' in os.environ:
+        include_dirs.append(os.environ['top_builddir'])
+        # Make sure that SWIG finds config.h when processing gpgme.i.
+        extra_swig_opts.append("-I{0}".format(os.environ['top_builddir']))
     library_dirs = ["../../src/.libs"] # XXX uses libtool internals
     extra_macros.update(
+        HAVE_CONFIG_H=1,
         HAVE_DATA_H=1,
         IN_TREE_BUILD=1,
     )
@@ -94,7 +100,6 @@ subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, "gpgme-h-clean.py", gpgme_h],
 subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, "gpgme-h-clean.py", gpg_error_h],
                       stdout=open("errors.i", "w"))
 
-include_dirs = [os.getcwd()]
 define_macros = []
 libs = getconfig('libs')