diff --git a/keystoneclient/openstack/common/setup.py b/keystoneclient/openstack/common/setup.py
index 429ba35c5..6b34417d9 100644
--- a/keystoneclient/openstack/common/setup.py
+++ b/keystoneclient/openstack/common/setup.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Utilities with minimum-depends for use in setup.py
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 
 from setuptools.command import sdist
 
@@ -76,6 +77,10 @@ def parse_requirements(requirements_files=['requirements.txt',
         # -f lines are for index locations, and don't get used here
         elif re.match(r'\s*-f\s+', line):
             pass
+        # argparse is part of the standard library starting with 2.7
+        # adding it to the requirements list screws distro installs
+        elif line == 'argparse' and sys.version_info >= (2, 7):
+            pass
         else:
             requirements.append(line)