diff --git a/lang/python/Makefile.am b/lang/python/Makefile.am
--- a/lang/python/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/python/Makefile.am
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@
 .PHONY: prepare
 prepare: copystamp
 
-# For VPATH builds we need to copy some files because Python's
-# distutils are not VPATH-aware.
+# For VPATH builds we need to copy some files because Python
+# is not VPATH-aware.
 copystamp:
 	ln -sf "$(top_srcdir)/src/data.h" .
 	ln -sf "$(top_builddir)/conf/config.h" .
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 	  CFLAGS="$(CFLAGS)" \
 	  srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
 	  top_builddir="$(top_builddir)" \
-	    $$PYTHON setup.py build --verbose --build-base="$$(basename "$${PYTHON}")-gpg" ; \
+	    $$PYTHON -m pip --verbose install --no-index --no-build-isolation --root="$$(basename "$${PYTHON}")-gpg" ${srcdir} ; \
 	done
 
 python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-gpg/dist/gpg-$(VERSION).tar.gz.asc: copystamp
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@
 	CFLAGS="$(CFLAGS)" \
 	srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
 	top_builddir="$(top_builddir)" \
-	  $(PYTHON) setup.py sdist --verbose --dist-dir=python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-gpg-dist \
-		--manifest=python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-gpg-dist/MANIFEST
+	  $(PYTHON) -m build --sdist --outdir=python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-gpg-dist
 	gpgbin=gpgconf --list-components | grep OpenPGP | sed -e 's/gpg:OpenPGP://g'
 	$(gpgbin) --detach-sign --armor python$(PYTHON_VERSION)-gpg-dist/gpg-$(VERSION).tar.gz
 
@@ -92,17 +91,16 @@
 	  CFLAGS="$(CFLAGS)" \
 	  srcdir="$(srcdir)" \
 	  top_builddir="$(top_builddir)" \
-	  $$PYTHON setup.py \
-	  build \
-	  --build-base="$$(basename "$${PYTHON}")-gpg" \
+	  $$PYTHON -m pip --verbose \
 	  install \
+	  --no-index --no-build-isolation \
 	  --prefix "$(DESTDIR)$(prefix)" \
-	  --verbose ; \
+	  ${srcdir} ; \
 	done
 
 uninstall-local:
 	set -x; GV=$$(echo $(VERSION) | tr - _); for PYTHON in $(PYTHONS); do \
 	  PLATLIB="$(prefix)/$$("$${PYTHON}" -c 'import sysconfig, os; print(os.path.relpath(sysconfig.get_path("platlib", scheme="posix_prefix"), sysconfig.get_config_var("prefix")))')" ; \
 	  rm -rf -- "$(DESTDIR)$${PLATLIB}/gpg" \
-		"$(DESTDIR)$${PLATLIB}"/gpg-$$GV-py*.egg-info ; \
+		"$(DESTDIR)$${PLATLIB}"/gpg-$$GV.dist-info ; \
 	done
diff --git a/lang/python/doc/src/gpgme-python-howto.org b/lang/python/doc/src/gpgme-python-howto.org
--- a/lang/python/doc/src/gpgme-python-howto.org
+++ b/lang/python/doc/src/gpgme-python-howto.org
@@ -2945,7 +2945,7 @@
 =setup.py= file which contains this:
 
 #+BEGIN_SRC python -i
-from distutils.core import setup
+from setuptools import setup
 from Cython.Build import cythonize
 
 setup(
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/advanced/cython/setup.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/advanced/cython/setup.py
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/advanced/cython/setup.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/advanced/cython/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from distutils.core import setup
+from setuptools import setup
 from Cython.Build import cythonize
 
 setup(
diff --git a/lang/python/setup.py.in b/lang/python/setup.py.in
--- a/lang/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/lang/python/setup.py.in
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 #    License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
 #    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307  USA
 
-from distutils.core import setup, Extension
-from distutils.command.build import build
+from setuptools import setup, Extension
+from setuptools.command.build import build
 
 import glob
 import os
@@ -225,9 +225,8 @@
         build.run(self)
 
 
-py3 = [] if sys.version_info.major < 3 else ['-py3']
 swig_sources = []
-swig_opts = ['-threads'] + py3 + extra_swig_opts
+swig_opts = ['-threads'] + extra_swig_opts
 swige = Extension(
     'gpg._gpgme',
     sources=swig_sources,
diff --git a/m4/ax_python_devel.m4 b/m4/ax_python_devel.m4
--- a/m4/ax_python_devel.m4
+++ b/m4/ax_python_devel.m4
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # ===========================================================================
-#      https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_python_devel.html
+#     https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_python_devel.html
 # ===========================================================================
 #
 # SYNOPSIS
 #
-#   AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([version])
+#   AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([version[,optional]])
 #
 # DESCRIPTION
 #
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 #   in your configure.ac.
 #
 #   This macro checks for Python and tries to get the include path to
-#   'Python.h'. It provides the $(PYTHON_CPPFLAGS) and $(PYTHON_LDFLAGS)
-#   output variables. It also exports $(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS) and
+#   'Python.h'. It provides the $(PYTHON_CPPFLAGS) and $(PYTHON_LIBS) output
+#   variables. It also exports $(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS) and
 #   $(PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS) for embedding Python in your code.
 #
 #   You can search for some particular version of Python by passing a
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@
 #   version number. Don't use "PYTHON_VERSION" for this: that environment
 #   variable is declared as precious and thus reserved for the end-user.
 #
+#   By default this will fail if it does not detect a development version of
+#   python.  If you want it to continue, set optional to true, like
+#   AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([], [true]).  The ax_python_devel_found variable will be
+#   "no" if it fails.
+#
 #   This macro should work for all versions of Python >= 2.1.0. As an end
 #   user, you can disable the check for the python version by setting the
 #   PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK environment variable to something else than the
@@ -67,10 +72,18 @@
 #   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
 #   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
 
-#serial 17
+#serial 36
 
 AU_ALIAS([AC_PYTHON_DEVEL], [AX_PYTHON_DEVEL])
 AC_DEFUN([AX_PYTHON_DEVEL],[
+	# Get whether it's optional
+	if test -z "$2"; then
+	   ax_python_devel_optional=false
+	else
+	   ax_python_devel_optional=$2
+	fi
+	ax_python_devel_found=yes
+
 	#
 	# Allow the use of a (user set) custom python version
 	#
@@ -81,81 +94,147 @@
 
 	AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON],[python[$PYTHON_VERSION]])
 	if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
-	   AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find python$PYTHON_VERSION in your system path])
+	   AC_MSG_WARN([Cannot find python$PYTHON_VERSION in your system path])
+	   if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+	      AC_MSG_ERROR([Giving up, python development not available])
+	   fi
+	   ax_python_devel_found=no
 	   PYTHON_VERSION=""
 	fi
 
-	#
-	# Check for a version of Python >= 2.1.0
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a version of Python >= '2.1.0'])
-	ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
+	if test $ax_python_devel_found = yes; then
+	   #
+	   # Check for a version of Python >= 2.1.0
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a version of Python >= '2.1.0'])
+	   ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
 		ver = sys.version.split ()[[0]]; \
 		print (ver >= '2.1.0')"`
-	if test "$ac_supports_python_ver" != "True"; then
+	   if test "$ac_supports_python_ver" != "True"; then
 		if test -z "$PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK"; then
 			AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-			AC_MSG_FAILURE([
+			AC_MSG_WARN([
 This version of the AC@&t@_PYTHON_DEVEL macro
 doesn't work properly with versions of Python before
 2.1.0. You may need to re-run configure, setting the
-variables PYTHON_CPPFLAGS, PYTHON_LDFLAGS, PYTHON_SITE_PKG,
+variables PYTHON_CPPFLAGS, PYTHON_LIBS, PYTHON_SITE_PKG,
 PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS and PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS by hand.
 Moreover, to disable this check, set PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK
 to something else than an empty string.
 ])
+			if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+			   AC_MSG_FAILURE([Giving up])
+			fi
+			ax_python_devel_found=no
+			PYTHON_VERSION=""
 		else
 			AC_MSG_RESULT([skip at user request])
 		fi
-	else
+	   else
 		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	   fi
 	fi
 
-	#
-	# if the macro parameter ``version'' is set, honour it
-	#
-	if test -n "$1"; then
+	if test $ax_python_devel_found = yes; then
+	   #
+	   # If the macro parameter ``version'' is set, honour it.
+	   # A Python shim class, VPy, is used to implement correct version comparisons via
+	   # string expressions, since e.g. a naive textual ">= 2.7.3" won't work for
+	   # Python 2.7.10 (the ".1" being evaluated as less than ".3").
+	   #
+	   if test -n "$1"; then
 		AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a version of Python $1])
-		ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
-			ver = sys.version.split ()[[0]]; \
+                cat << EOF > ax_python_devel_vpy.py
+class VPy:
+    def vtup(self, s):
+        return tuple(map(int, s.strip().replace("rc", ".").split(".")))
+    def __init__(self):
+        import sys
+        self.vpy = tuple(sys.version_info)[[:3]]
+    def __eq__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy == self.vtup(s)
+    def __ne__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy != self.vtup(s)
+    def __lt__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy < self.vtup(s)
+    def __gt__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy > self.vtup(s)
+    def __le__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy <= self.vtup(s)
+    def __ge__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy >= self.vtup(s)
+EOF
+		ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import ax_python_devel_vpy; \
+                        ver = ax_python_devel_vpy.VPy(); \
 			print (ver $1)"`
+                rm -rf ax_python_devel_vpy*.py* __pycache__/ax_python_devel_vpy*.py*
 		if test "$ac_supports_python_ver" = "True"; then
-		   AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
 		else
 			AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-			AC_MSG_ERROR([this package requires Python $1.
+			AC_MSG_WARN([this package requires Python $1.
 If you have it installed, but it isn't the default Python
 interpreter in your system path, please pass the PYTHON_VERSION
 variable to configure. See ``configure --help'' for reference.
 ])
+			if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+			   AC_MSG_ERROR([Giving up])
+			fi
+			ax_python_devel_found=no
 			PYTHON_VERSION=""
 		fi
+	   fi
 	fi
 
-	#
-	# Check if you have distutils, else fail
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for the distutils Python package])
-	ac_distutils_result=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils" 2>&1`
-	if test -z "$ac_distutils_result"; then
+	if test $ax_python_devel_found = yes; then
+	   #
+	   # Check if you have distutils, else fail
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for the sysconfig Python package])
+	   ac_sysconfig_result=`$PYTHON -c "import sysconfig" 2>&1`
+	   if test $? -eq 0; then
 		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-	else
+		IMPORT_SYSCONFIG="import sysconfig"
+	   else
 		AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
-		AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot import Python module "distutils".
+
+		AC_MSG_CHECKING([for the distutils Python package])
+		ac_sysconfig_result=`$PYTHON -c "from distutils import sysconfig" 2>&1`
+		if test $? -eq 0; then
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+			IMPORT_SYSCONFIG="from distutils import sysconfig"
+		else
+			AC_MSG_WARN([cannot import Python module "distutils".
 Please check your Python installation. The error was:
-$ac_distutils_result])
-		PYTHON_VERSION=""
+$ac_sysconfig_result])
+			if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+			   AC_MSG_ERROR([Giving up])
+			fi
+			ax_python_devel_found=no
+			PYTHON_VERSION=""
+		fi
+	   fi
 	fi
 
-	#
-	# Check for Python include path
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python include path])
-	if test -z "$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"; then
-		python_path=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; \
-			print (distutils.sysconfig.get_python_inc ());"`
-		plat_python_path=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; \
-			print (distutils.sysconfig.get_python_inc (plat_specific=1));"`
+	if test $ax_python_devel_found = yes; then
+	   #
+	   # Check for Python include path
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python include path])
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			# sysconfig module has different functions
+			python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path ('include'));"`
+			plat_python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path ('platinclude'));"`
+		else
+			# old distutils way
+			python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_inc ());"`
+			plat_python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_inc (plat_specific=1));"`
+		fi
 		if test -n "${python_path}"; then
 			if test "${plat_python_path}" != "${python_path}"; then
 				python_path="-I$python_path -I$plat_python_path"
@@ -164,22 +243,22 @@
 			fi
 		fi
 		PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=$python_path
-	fi
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
-	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
+	   fi
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
+	   AC_SUBST([PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
 
-	#
-	# Check for Python library path
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python library path])
-	if test -z "$PYTHON_LDFLAGS"; then
+	   #
+	   # Check for Python library path
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python library path])
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_LIBS"; then
 		# (makes two attempts to ensure we've got a version number
 		# from the interpreter)
 		ac_python_version=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
 
 # join all versioning strings, on some systems
 # major/minor numbers could be in different list elements
-from distutils.sysconfig import *
+from sysconfig import *
 e = get_config_var('VERSION')
 if e is not None:
 	print(e)
@@ -190,7 +269,7 @@
 				ac_python_version=$PYTHON_VERSION
 			else
 				ac_python_version=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
-					print (sys.version[[:3]])"`
+					print ("%d.%d" % sys.version_info[[:2]])"`
 			fi
 		fi
 
@@ -205,8 +284,8 @@
 		ac_python_libdir=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
 
 # There should be only one
-import distutils.sysconfig
-e = distutils.sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR')
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG
+e = sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR')
 if e is not None:
 	print (e)
 EOD`
@@ -214,8 +293,8 @@
 		# Now, for the library:
 		ac_python_library=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
 
-import distutils.sysconfig
-c = distutils.sysconfig.get_config_vars()
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG
+c = sysconfig.get_config_vars()
 if 'LDVERSION' in c:
 	print ('python'+c[['LDVERSION']])
 else:
@@ -230,97 +309,163 @@
 		then
 			# use the official shared library
 			ac_python_library=`echo "$ac_python_library" | sed "s/^lib//"`
-			PYTHON_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_python_libdir -l$ac_python_library"
+			PYTHON_LIBS="-L$ac_python_libdir -l$ac_python_library"
 		else
 			# old way: use libpython from python_configdir
 			ac_python_libdir=`$PYTHON -c \
-			  "from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib as f; \
+			  "from sysconfig import get_python_lib as f; \
 			  import os; \
 			  print (os.path.join(f(plat_specific=1, standard_lib=1), 'config'));"`
-			PYTHON_LDFLAGS="-L$ac_python_libdir -lpython$ac_python_version"
+			PYTHON_LIBS="-L$ac_python_libdir -lpython$ac_python_version"
 		fi
 
-		if test -z "PYTHON_LDFLAGS"; then
-			AC_MSG_ERROR([
+		if test -z "PYTHON_LIBS"; then
+			AC_MSG_WARN([
   Cannot determine location of your Python DSO. Please check it was installed with
-  dynamic libraries enabled, or try setting PYTHON_LDFLAGS by hand.
+  dynamic libraries enabled, or try setting PYTHON_LIBS by hand.
 			])
+			if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+			   AC_MSG_ERROR([Giving up])
+			fi
+			ax_python_devel_found=no
+			PYTHON_VERSION=""
 		fi
+	   fi
 	fi
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_LDFLAGS])
-	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_LDFLAGS])
 
-	#
-	# Check for site packages
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python site-packages path])
-	if test -z "$PYTHON_SITE_PKG"; then
-		PYTHON_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; \
-			print (distutils.sysconfig.get_python_lib(0,0));"`
-	fi
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
-	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
+	if test $ax_python_devel_found = yes; then
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_LIBS])
+	   AC_SUBST([PYTHON_LIBS])
 
-	#
-	# libraries which must be linked in when embedding
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra libraries)
-	if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"; then
-	   PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; \
-                conf = distutils.sysconfig.get_config_var; \
+	   #
+	   # Check for site packages
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python site-packages path])
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_SITE_PKG"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			PYTHON_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG;
+if hasattr(sysconfig, 'get_default_scheme'):
+    scheme = sysconfig.get_default_scheme()
+else:
+    scheme = sysconfig._get_default_scheme()
+if scheme == 'posix_local':
+    # Debian's default scheme installs to /usr/local/ but we want to find headers in /usr/
+    scheme = 'posix_prefix'
+prefix = '$prefix'
+if prefix == 'NONE':
+    prefix = '$ac_default_prefix'
+sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('purelib', scheme, vars={'base': prefix})
+print(sitedir)"`
+		else
+			# distutils.sysconfig way
+			PYTHON_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_lib(0,0));"`
+		fi
+	   fi
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
+	   AC_SUBST([PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
+
+	   #
+	   # Check for platform-specific site packages
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python platform specific site-packages path])
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG;
+if hasattr(sysconfig, 'get_default_scheme'):
+    scheme = sysconfig.get_default_scheme()
+else:
+    scheme = sysconfig._get_default_scheme()
+if scheme == 'posix_local':
+    # Debian's default scheme installs to /usr/local/ but we want to find headers in /usr/
+    scheme = 'posix_prefix'
+prefix = '$prefix'
+if prefix == 'NONE':
+    prefix = '$ac_default_prefix'
+sitedir = sysconfig.get_path('platlib', scheme, vars={'platbase': prefix})
+print(sitedir)"`
+		else
+			# distutils.sysconfig way
+			PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_lib(1,0));"`
+		fi
+	   fi
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG])
+	   AC_SUBST([PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG])
+
+	   #
+	   # libraries which must be linked in when embedding
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra libraries)
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"; then
+	      PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+                conf = sysconfig.get_config_var; \
                 print (conf('LIBS') + ' ' + conf('SYSLIBS'))"`
-	fi
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS])
-	AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS)
+	   fi
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS])
+	   AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS)
 
-	#
-	# linking flags needed when embedding
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra linking flags)
-	if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS"; then
-		PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS=`$PYTHON -c "import distutils.sysconfig; \
-			conf = distutils.sysconfig.get_config_var; \
+	   #
+	   # linking flags needed when embedding
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra linking flags)
+	   if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS"; then
+		PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+			conf = sysconfig.get_config_var; \
 			print (conf('LINKFORSHARED'))"`
-	fi
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS])
-	AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS)
+		# Hack for macos, it sticks this in here.
+		PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS=`echo $PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS | sed 's/CoreFoundation.*$/CoreFoundation/'`
+	   fi
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS])
+	   AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS)
 
-	#
-	# final check to see if everything compiles alright
-	#
-	AC_MSG_CHECKING([consistency of all components of python development environment])
-	# save current global flags
-	ac_save_LIBS="$LIBS"
-	ac_save_CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS"
-	LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS $PYTHON_LDFLAGS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"
-	CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS $PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"
-	AC_LANG_PUSH([C])
-	AC_LINK_IFELSE([
+	   #
+	   # final check to see if everything compiles alright
+	   #
+	   AC_MSG_CHECKING([consistency of all components of python development environment])
+	   # save current global flags
+	   ac_save_LIBS="$LIBS"
+	   ac_save_LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS"
+	   ac_save_CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS"
+	   LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS $PYTHON_LIBS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"
+	   LDFLAGS="$ac_save_LDFLAGS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS"
+	   CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS $PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"
+	   AC_LANG_PUSH([C])
+	   AC_LINK_IFELSE([
 		AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <Python.h>]],
 				[[Py_Initialize();]])
 		],[pythonexists=yes],[pythonexists=no])
-	AC_LANG_POP([C])
-	# turn back to default flags
-	CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS"
-	LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS"
+	   AC_LANG_POP([C])
+	   # turn back to default flags
+	   CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS"
+	   LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS"
+	   LDFLAGS="$ac_save_LDFLAGS"
 
-	AC_MSG_RESULT([$pythonexists])
+	   AC_MSG_RESULT([$pythonexists])
 
-        if test ! "x$pythonexists" = "xyes"; then
-	   AC_MSG_WARN([
+	   if test ! "x$pythonexists" = "xyes"; then
+	      AC_MSG_WARN([
   Could not link test program to Python. Maybe the main Python library has been
   installed in some non-standard library path. If so, pass it to configure,
-  via the LDFLAGS environment variable.
-  Example: ./configure LDFLAGS="-L/usr/non-standard-path/python/lib"
+  via the LIBS environment variable.
+  Example: ./configure LIBS="-L/usr/non-standard-path/python/lib"
   ============================================================================
+   ERROR!
    You probably have to install the development version of the Python package
    for your distribution.  The exact name of this package varies among them.
   ============================================================================
-	   ])
-	  PYTHON_VERSION=""
+	      ])
+	      if ! $ax_python_devel_optional; then
+		 AC_MSG_ERROR([Giving up])
+	      fi
+	      ax_python_devel_found=no
+	      PYTHON_VERSION=""
+	   fi
 	fi
 
 	#
 	# all done!
 	#
-])
+])
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/m4/python.m4 b/m4/python.m4
--- a/m4/python.m4
+++ b/m4/python.m4
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
   m4_define_default([_AM_PYTHON_INTERPRETER_LIST],
 [python2 python2.7 dnl
  python dnl
- python3 python3.10 python3.9 python3.8 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4
+ python3 python3.12 python3.11 python3.10 python3.9 python3.8 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4
  ])
 
   AC_ARG_VAR([PYTHON], [the Python interpreter])