diff --git a/build/pkgs/rpy2/spkg-configure.m4 b/build/pkgs/rpy2/spkg-configure.m4
index c9831c6b60a..0cb3784ea9c 100644
--- a/build/pkgs/rpy2/spkg-configure.m4
+++ b/build/pkgs/rpy2/spkg-configure.m4
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 SAGE_SPKG_CONFIGURE([rpy2], [
-    sage_spkg_install_rpy2=yes
-  ], [dnl REQUIRED-CHECK
+    SAGE_PYTHON_PACKAGE_CHECK([rpy2])
+], [dnl REQUIRED-CHECK
     AC_REQUIRE([SAGE_SPKG_CONFIGURE_R])
     dnl rpy2 is only needed when there is a usable system R
     AS_VAR_IF([sage_spkg_install_r], [yes], [dnl