diff --git a/changelog.d/3820.misc.rst b/changelog.d/3820.misc.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26d9d05dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/3820.misc.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Restore quoted ``#include`` argument to ``has_function``.
diff --git a/setuptools/_distutils/ccompiler.py b/setuptools/_distutils/ccompiler.py
index f4a8a89760..1818fce901 100644
--- a/setuptools/_distutils/ccompiler.py
+++ b/setuptools/_distutils/ccompiler.py
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ def has_function(  # noqa: C901
         f = os.fdopen(fd, "w")
         try:
             for incl in includes:
-                f.write("""#include %s\n""" % incl)
+                f.write("""#include "%s"\n""" % incl)
             if not includes:
                 # Use "char func(void);" as the prototype to follow
                 # what autoconf does.  This prototype does not match
diff --git a/setuptools/_distutils/tests/test_ccompiler.py b/setuptools/_distutils/tests/test_ccompiler.py
index 88497d252b..49691d4b9b 100644
--- a/setuptools/_distutils/tests/test_ccompiler.py
+++ b/setuptools/_distutils/tests/test_ccompiler.py
@@ -66,15 +66,15 @@ def test_has_function_prototype():
     assert compiler.has_function('exit')
     with pytest.deprecated_call(match='includes is deprecated'):
         # abort() is a valid expression with the <stdlib.h> prototype.
-        assert compiler.has_function('abort', includes=['<stdlib.h>'])
+        assert compiler.has_function('abort', includes=['stdlib.h'])
     with pytest.deprecated_call(match='includes is deprecated'):
         # But exit() is not valid with the actual prototype in scope.
-        assert not compiler.has_function('exit', includes=['<stdlib.h>'])
+        assert not compiler.has_function('exit', includes=['stdlib.h'])
     # And setuptools_does_not_exist is not declared or defined at all.
     assert not compiler.has_function('setuptools_does_not_exist')
     with pytest.deprecated_call(match='includes is deprecated'):
         assert not compiler.has_function(
-            'setuptools_does_not_exist', includes=['<stdio.h>']
+            'setuptools_does_not_exist', includes=['stdio.h']
         )