diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c7c7b79..c1ddfdc 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ try:
     changelog = '\nChangelog\n=============\n' + changelog
     long_description += changelog
 except (IOError, ImportError):
+    if sys.argv[2] == 'sdist':
+        raise
     long_description = ''
 
 # Clean command, invoked with `python setup.py clean`