--- setup.py
+++ setup.py
@@ -247,6 +247,10 @@
         add_dir_to_list(self.compiler.library_dirs, '/usr/local/' + sys.lib)
         add_dir_to_list(self.compiler.include_dirs, '/usr/local/include')
 
+        # ensure that "." (i.e. location of new libpython.so) is always used. this fixes
+        # a build problem with our Python-2.3.3-dirs.patch. i'll look into it later
+        add_dir_to_list(self.compiler.library_dirs, '.')
+
         # Add paths specified in the environment variables LDFLAGS and
         # CPPFLAGS for header and library files.
         # We must get the values from the Makefile and not the environment