diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index aad29d98a6a..d2727622500 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #12285: Fix error when distutils encounters symlink.
+
 - In the curses module, raise an error if window.getstr() or window.instr() is
   passed a negative value.