diff --git a/mesonbuild/scripts/python_info.py b/mesonbuild/scripts/python_info.py
index cfa2b1dd86da..3fb07fb53cab 100755
--- a/mesonbuild/scripts/python_info.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/scripts/python_info.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
     del sys.path[0]
 
 import json, os, sysconfig
-import distutils.command.install
 
 def get_distutils_paths(scheme=None, prefix=None):
     import distutils.dist
@@ -63,10 +62,15 @@ def get_install_paths():
     return paths, install_paths
 
 def links_against_libpython():
-    from distutils.core import Distribution, Extension
-    cmd = Distribution().get_command_obj('build_ext')
-    cmd.ensure_finalized()
-    return bool(cmd.get_libraries(Extension('dummy', [])))
+    # on versions supporting python-embed.pc, this is the non-embed lib
+    if sys.version_info >= (3, 12):
+        variables = sysconfig.get_config_vars()
+        return bool(variables.get('LIBPYTHON', True))
+    else:
+        from distutils.core import Distribution, Extension
+        cmd = Distribution().get_command_obj('build_ext')
+        cmd.ensure_finalized()
+        return bool(cmd.get_libraries(Extension('dummy', [])))
 
 def main():
     variables = sysconfig.get_config_vars()