diff --git a/python-base.changes b/python-base.changes
index 747d3d6..a1c4e9b 100644
--- a/python-base.changes
+++ b/python-base.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Fri Jan 10 16:01:57 CET 2020 - Matej Cepl <mcepl@suse.com>
+
+- libnsl is required only on more recent SLEs and openSUSE, older
+  glibc supported NIS on its own.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Thu Jan  2 10:34:17 UTC 2020 - Tomáš Chvátal <tchvatal@suse.com>
 
diff --git a/python-base.spec b/python-base.spec
index 1b2f994..e066d18 100644
--- a/python-base.spec
+++ b/python-base.spec
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ Patch56:        adapted-from-F00251-change-user-install-location.patch
 BuildRequires:  automake
 BuildRequires:  fdupes
 BuildRequires:  libbz2-devel
+%if %{suse_version} > 1200
 BuildRequires:  libnsl-devel
+%endif
 BuildRequires:  pkg-config
 BuildRequires:  xz
 BuildRequires:  zlib-devel
diff --git a/python.spec b/python.spec
index 849c0eb..0f4d0f9 100644
--- a/python.spec
+++ b/python.spec
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ BuildRequires:  fdupes
 BuildRequires:  gdbm-devel
 BuildRequires:  gmp-devel
 BuildRequires:  libbz2-devel
+%if %{suse_version} > 1200
 BuildRequires:  libnsl-devel
+%endif
 BuildRequires:  libopenssl-devel
 BuildRequires:  ncurses-devel
 BuildRequires:  readline-devel