diff --git a/setuptools/command/build_clib.py b/setuptools/command/build_clib.py
index acd4d1d3ba..af1a5c9954 100644
--- a/setuptools/command/build_clib.py
+++ b/setuptools/command/build_clib.py
@@ -2,11 +2,8 @@
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsSetupError
 from distutils import log
 
-try:
-    from distutils._modified import newer_pairwise_group
-except ImportError:
-    # fallback for SETUPTOOLS_USE_DISTUTILS=stdlib
-    from .._distutils._modified import newer_pairwise_group
+# Using vendored version directly because distutils._modified doesn't exist in stdlib
+from setuptools.modified import newer_pairwise_group
 
 
 class build_clib(orig.build_clib):