diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/commands.py b/src/python/grpcio/commands.py
index 7f9c292d6598812236fcb2d330b2314ada87785d..f498ed41901693c849d74b3b780776c504a9beb9 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/commands.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/commands.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class BuildProtoModules(setuptools.Command):
           '--plugin=protoc-gen-python-grpc={}'.format(
               self.grpc_python_plugin_command),
           '-I {}'.format(GRPC_STEM),
-          '-I .'.format(GRPC_STEM),
+          '-I .',
           '-I {}/third_party/protobuf/src'.format(GRPC_STEM),
           '--python_out={}'.format(PROTO_GEN_STEM),
           '--python-grpc_out={}'.format(PROTO_GEN_STEM),