diff --git a/lang/python/setup.py.in b/lang/python/setup.py.in
index 6741d3c8..6f36861d 100755
--- a/lang/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/lang/python/setup.py.in
@@ -68,22 +68,26 @@ if not gpgme_h:
     gpgme_h = os.path.join('@prefix@', 'include', 'gpgme.h')
 
 define_macros = []
-libs = '@GPGME_CONFIG_LIBS@'.split(' ')
+if '@GPGME_CONFIG_LIBS@':
+    libs = '@GPGME_CONFIG_LIBS@'.split(' ')
+else:
+    libs = []
 
 # Define extra_macros for both the SWIG and C code
 for k, v in extra_macros.items():
     extra_swig_opts.append('-D{0}={1}'.format(k, v))
     define_macros.append((k, str(v)))
 
-for item in '@GPGME_CONFIG_CFLAGS@'.split(' '):
-    if item.startswith('-I'):
-        include_dirs.append(item[2:])
-    elif item.startswith('-D'):
-        defitem = item[2:].split('=', 1)
-        if len(defitem) == 2:
-            define_macros.append((defitem[0], defitem[1]))
-        else:
-            define_macros.append((defitem[0], None))
+if '@GPGME_CONFIG_CFLAGS@':
+    for item in '@GPGME_CONFIG_CFLAGS@'.split(' '):
+        if item.startswith('-I'):
+            include_dirs.append(item[2:])
+        elif item.startswith('-D'):
+            defitem = item[2:].split('=', 1)
+            if len(defitem) == 2:
+                define_macros.append((defitem[0], defitem[1]))
+            else:
+                define_macros.append((defitem[0], None))
 
 # Adjust include and library locations in case of win32
 uname_s = os.popen('uname -s').read()
@@ -165,8 +169,9 @@ class BuildExtFirstHack(build):
 
     def _generate_errors_i(self):
 
+        ge_cflags='@GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS@'
         gpg_error_content = self._read_header(
-            'gpg-error.h', '@GPG_ERROR_CFLAGS@'.split(' '))
+            'gpg-error.h', ge_cflags.split(' ') if ge_cflags else [])
 
         filter_re = re.compile(r'GPG_ERR_[^ ]* =')
         rewrite_re = re.compile(r' *(.*) = .*')