diff --git a/setuptools/msvc.py b/setuptools/msvc.py
index 51afb43857..b9fdf6836b 100644
--- a/setuptools/msvc.py
+++ b/setuptools/msvc.py
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ def return_env(self, exists=True):
                 exists,
             ),
         )
-        if self.vs_ver >= 14 and isfile(self.VCRuntimeRedist):
+        if self.vs_ver >= 14 and self.VCRuntimeRedist:
             env['py_vcruntime_redist'] = self.VCRuntimeRedist
         return env