diff --git a/makepanda/installpanda.py b/makepanda/installpanda.py
index c35ad8abd3..b1804942d8 100644
--- a/makepanda/installpanda.py
+++ b/makepanda/installpanda.py
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib
 from optparse import OptionParser
 from makepandacore import *
 
+def python_sitepackages_path():
+    from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib
+    return get_python_lib(1)
+PYTHON_SITEPACKAGES=python_sitepackages_path()
+
 MIME_INFO = (
   ("egg", "model/x-egg", "EGG model file", "pview"),
   ("bam", "model/x-bam", "Panda3D binary model file", "pview"),
diff --git a/makepanda/makepanda.py b/makepanda/makepanda.py
index f80f8519ae..e3ceecb3b0 100755
--- a/makepanda/makepanda.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepanda.py
@@ -6184,10 +6184,6 @@ Description: Runtime binary and browser plugin for the Panda3D Game Engine
 
 """
 
-def python_sitepackages_path():
-    from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib
-    return get_python_lib(1)
-PYTHON_SITEPACKAGES=python_sitepackages_path()
 
 # We're not putting "python" in the "Requires" field,
 # since the rpm-based distros don't have a common