diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/__init__.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/__init__.py
index 1b939cbd5db2bf..5d2e69e3e6a8f6 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/__init__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import unittest
+import warnings
 from test.support import run_unittest
 
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
 
 
 def test_suite():
+    old_filters = warnings.filters[:]
     suite = unittest.TestSuite()
     for fn in os.listdir(here):
         if fn.startswith("test") and fn.endswith(".py"):
@@ -29,6 +31,10 @@ def test_suite():
             __import__(modname)
             module = sys.modules[modname]
             suite.addTest(module.test_suite())
+    # bpo-40055: Save/restore warnings filters to leave them unchanged.
+    # Importing tests imports docutils which imports pkg_resources which adds a
+    # warnings filter.
+    warnings.filters[:] = old_filters
     return suite
 
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-05-15-01-21-44.bpo-40055.Xp4aP9.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-05-15-01-21-44.bpo-40055.Xp4aP9.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..edb01182c3a5ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-05-15-01-21-44.bpo-40055.Xp4aP9.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+distutils.tests now saves/restores warnings filters to leave them unchanged.
+Importing tests imports docutils which imports pkg_resources which adds a
+warnings filter.