diff --git a/python-ipykernel.spec b/python-ipykernel.spec
index bc721cd..cc5df6b 100644
--- a/python-ipykernel.spec
+++ b/python-ipykernel.spec
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ donttest="test_init_ipc_socket"
 # we don't want ipyparallel and its dependencies in Ring1
 ignoretests="$ignoretests --ignore tests/test_pickleutil.py"
 donttest="$donttest or test_do_apply"
+%python_flavored_alternatives
+export PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1
 %{python_expand #
 export PYTHONPATH=%{buildroot}%{$python_sitelib}
 # install single kernelspecs for each flavor, so that it is taken by default