diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 04d3b81a4..cd2657a2a 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ if [ "$RAY_BUILD_PYTHON" == "YES" ]; then
   pickle5_available=0
   pickle5_path="$ROOT_DIR/python/ray/pickle5_files"
   # Check if the current Python alrady has pickle5 (either comes with newer Python versions, or has been installed by us before).
-  if PYTHONPATH="$pickle5_path:$PYTHONPATH" "$PYTHON_EXECUTABLE" -s -c "import pickle5" 2>/dev/null; then
+  check_pickle5_command="import sys\nif sys.version_info < (3, 8, 2): import pickle5;"
+  if PYTHONPATH="$pickle5_path:$PYTHONPATH" "$PYTHON_EXECUTABLE" -s -c "exec(\"$check_pickle5_command\")" 2>/dev/null; then
     pickle5_available=1
   fi
   if [ 1 -ne "${pickle5_available}" ]; then