diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-macos.yml b/.github/workflows/build-macos.yml
index 7441c765..8e6f5929 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-macos.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - run: yarn install --ignore-engines
 
+      # add missing distutils package to python 3.12
+      - name: Install distutils
+        run: |
+          pip install distutils
+
       - run: yarn start --node-range node${{ matrix.target-node }} --output dist
 
       - name: Check if binary is compiled, skip if download only
@@ -63,6 +68,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - run: yarn install --ignore-engines
 
+      # add missing distutils package to python 3.12
+      - name: Install distutils
+        run: |
+          pip install distutils
+
       - run: yarn start --node-range node${{ matrix.target-node }} --arch arm64 --output dist
         env:
           CC: clang -arch arm64