https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gobject-introspection/-/work_items/575#note_2838785
--- a/tests/scanner/test_ccompiler.py	2026-08-17 05:31:19.341878650 +0000
+++ b/tests/scanner/test_ccompiler.py	2026-08-17 05:45:37.094350170 +0000
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@
         except ImportError as e:
             raise unittest.SkipTest(e)
 
-        with patch.object(distutils.ccompiler.CCompiler, 'spawn') as spawn:
+        # setuptools >= 84 replaced spawn() with call() -> subprocess.check_call()
+        with patch.object(distutils.ccompiler.CCompiler, 'spawn') as spawn, \
+             patch('subprocess.check_call') as check_call:
             with Environ(environ):
                 cc = CCompiler(compiler_name=compiler_name)
                 # Avoid check if target is newer from source.
@@ -90,8 +92,11 @@
                 # Don't actually do anything.
                 cc.compiler.dry_run = True
                 cc.compile(pkg_config_cflags, cpp_includes, [source], init_sections)
-        self.assertEqual(1, spawn.call_count)
-        args, kwargs = spawn.call_args
+        if spawn.call_count:
+            args, kwargs = spawn.call_args
+            return args[0]
+        self.assertEqual(1, check_call.call_count)
+        args, kwargs = check_call.call_args
         return args[0]
 
     def preprocess_args(self, environ={}, compiler_name=None,
@@ -103,7 +108,9 @@
         except ImportError as e:
             raise unittest.SkipTest(e)
 
-        with patch.object(distutils.ccompiler.CCompiler, 'spawn') as spawn:
+        # setuptools >= 84 replaced spawn() with call() -> subprocess.check_call()
+        with patch.object(distutils.ccompiler.CCompiler, 'spawn') as spawn, \
+             patch('subprocess.check_call') as check_call:
             with Environ(environ):
                 cc = CCompiler(compiler_name=compiler_name)
                 # Avoid check if target is newer from source.
@@ -111,8 +118,11 @@
                 # Don't actually do anything.
                 cc.compiler.dry_run = True
                 cc.preprocess(source, output, cpp_options)
-        self.assertEqual(1, spawn.call_count)
-        args, kwargs = spawn.call_args
+        if spawn.call_count:
+            args, kwargs = spawn.call_args
+            return args[0]
+        self.assertEqual(1, check_call.call_count)
+        args, kwargs = check_call.call_args
         return args[0]
 
     @unittest.skip("Currently a Python build time compiler is used as the default.")