diff --git a/package/python-pexpect/python-pexpect.mk b/package/python-pexpect/python-pexpect.mk
index b74bf83510..40a1741f3e 100644
--- a/package/python-pexpect/python-pexpect.mk
+++ b/package/python-pexpect/python-pexpect.mk
@@ -11,4 +11,14 @@ PYTHON_PEXPECT_LICENSE = ISC
 PYTHON_PEXPECT_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 PYTHON_PEXPECT_SETUP_TYPE = distutils
 
+# async.py is not usable with Python 2, and removing is the solution
+# recommended by upstream:
+# https://github.com/pexpect/pexpect/issues/290
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON),y)
+define PYTHON_PEXPECT_REMOVE_ASYNC_PY
+	$(RM) $(@D)/pexpect/async.py
+endef
+PYTHON_PEXPECT_POST_PATCH_HOOKS += PYTHON_PEXPECT_REMOVE_ASYNC_PY
+endif
+
 $(eval $(python-package))