diff --git a/Lib/distutils/core.py b/Lib/distutils/core.py
index a31e60ce4a7..dfe411b0ccd 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/core.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/core.py
@@ -506,7 +506,6 @@ def find_command_obj (self, command, create=1):
         cmd_obj = self.command_obj.get (command)
         if not cmd_obj and create:
             cmd_obj = self.create_command_obj (command)
-            cmd_obj.ensure_ready ()
             self.command_obj[command] = cmd_obj
 
         return cmd_obj
@@ -873,7 +872,9 @@ def find_peer (self, command, create=1):
            find (create if necessary and 'create' is true) the command
            object for 'command'.."""
 
-        return self.distribution.find_command_obj (command, create)
+        cmd_obj = self.distribution.find_command_obj (command, create)
+        cmd_obj.ensure_ready ()
+        return cmd_obj
 
 
     def get_peer_option (self, command, option):