diff --git a/gnu/packages/python.scm b/gnu/packages/python.scm
index fd1a2d3601..05c1f504ef 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python.scm
@@ -174,6 +174,24 @@
                                     "Lib/test/test_subprocess.py"))
                (("/bin/sh") (which "sh")))
              #t))
+          (add-before
+           'install 'do-not-record-configure-flags
+           (lambda _
+             ;; Remove configure flags from '_sysconfigdata.py' so we don't
+             ;; end up keeping references to the build tools.
+             (substitute* (find-files "." "sysconfigdata\\.py$")
+               (("'CONFIG_ARGS':.*")
+                "'CONFIG_ARGS': \"\",\n"))
+             #t))
+          (add-after
+           'install 'do-not-record-configure-flags-in-makefile
+           (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+             ;; Likewise.
+             (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (substitute* (find-files out "^Makefile$")
+                 (("^CONFIG_ARGS[[:blank:]]*=.*$")
+                  "CONFIG_ARGS =\n"))
+               #t)))
           (add-before
            'check 'pre-check
            (lambda _