diff --git a/setup-wxsvg.py b/setup-wxsvg.py
index 12c2d9a2..5a1a35c3 100644
--- a/setup-wxsvg.py
+++ b/setup-wxsvg.py
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@ import sys
 import os
 import textwrap
 from setuptools import setup, Extension
-from Cython.Build import cythonize
+try:
+    from Cython.Build import cythonize
+    have_cython = True
+except ImportError:
+    have_cython = False
+
 
 VERSION = "0.1.0"
 DESCRIPTION = ''
@@ -24,14 +29,28 @@ with open(os.path.join(HERE, PACKAGEDIR, '_version.py'), 'w') as f:
         __version__ = '{VERSION}'
         """))
 
+if have_cython:
+    SOURCE = os.path.join(PACKAGEDIR, '_nanosvg.pyx')
+else:
+    SOURCE = os.path.join(PACKAGEDIR, '_nanosvg.c')
+
 module = Extension(name='wx.svg._nanosvg',
-                   sources=['wx/svg/_nanosvg.pyx'],
+                   sources=[SOURCE],
                    include_dirs=['ext/nanosvg/src'],
                    define_macros=[('NANOSVG_IMPLEMENTATION', '1'),
                                   ('NANOSVGRAST_IMPLEMENTATION', '1'),
                                   ('NANOSVG_ALL_COLOR_KEYWORDS', '1'),
                                   ])
 
+if have_cython:
+    modules = cythonize([module],
+                        compiler_directives={'embedsignature': True,
+                                             'language_level':2,
+                                            })
+else:
+    modules = [module]
+
+
 setup(name             = 'nanosvg',
       version          = VERSION,
       description      = DESCRIPTION,
@@ -42,9 +61,5 @@ setup(name             = 'nanosvg',
       download_url     = DOWNLOAD_URL,
       license          = LICENSE,
       packages         = [PACKAGE],
-      ext_modules      = cythonize(
-                            [module],
-                            compiler_directives={'embedsignature': True,
-                                                 'language_level':2,
-                                                 }),
+      ext_modules      = modules,
 )