diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 2e4a14520..a20872ad2 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ class options:
                     help='Disable VMD molfile plugins (libnetcdf dependency)')
 options, sys.argv[1:] = parser.parse_known_args(namespace=options)
 
+if False:
+    import monkeypatch_distutils
+    monkeypatch_distutils.set_parallel_jobs(options.jobs)
+
+
 def forms_uic(build_lib='modules'):
     '''
     Convert Qt UI files in "modules/pmg_qt/forms" to Python files in place