For what it's worth, the code in question is used here (using "import
distutils" instead of "pass"):

http://anoncvs.postgresql.org/cvsweb.cgi/pgsql/config/python.m4?rev=1.15;content-type=text%2Fx-cvsweb-markup

This is obviously a completely gratuitous variant on 2>/dev/null, but it
has apparently been working since forever.  I'll probably go make the
change anyway.

Nevertheless, I think Python shouldn't core dump.  It may choose to exit
doing nothing (useful) if it doesn't want to deal with this case.

Check this for possible alternative behaviors:

$ ls 1>&-
ls: write error: Bad file descriptor
($? = 2)
$ ls 1>&- 2>&-
($? = 2, no output)