diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
index fdcc4d39b9e..108427bb954 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ import select
 import time
 import string
 
-if platform.system() == 'Linux':
+# The distutils module is not shipped with SUNWPython on Solaris.
+if platform.system() != 'SunOS':
     from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 class Service(object):