diff -r c4865975b804 setup.py
--- a/setup.py	Sat Dec 10 05:57:49 2016 +0000
+++ b/setup.py	Sat Dec 10 09:49:37 2016 +0100
@@ -1350,7 +1350,8 @@
         panel_library = 'panel'
         if curses_library == 'ncursesw':
             curses_defines.append(('HAVE_NCURSESW', '1'))
-            curses_includes.append('/usr/include/ncursesw')
+            if not cross_compiling:
+                curses_includes.append('/usr/include/ncursesw')
             # Bug 1464056: If _curses.so links with ncursesw,
             # _curses_panel.so must link with panelw.
             panel_library = 'panelw'