diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/bdist.py b/Lib/distutils/command/bdist.py
index 889cdba857b..685f52508ea 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/bdist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/bdist.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class bdist (Command):
 
         sub_cmd = self.find_peer (cmd_name)
         sub_cmd.set_option ('format', self.format)
+        self.run_peer (cmd_name)
 
     # run()