diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/python.pri b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/python.pri
index 62d03795f..739fc2cc9 100644
--- a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/python.pri
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/python.pri
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ OPENPILOT_TOOLS_DIR = $$(OPENPILOT_TOOLS_DIR)
         PYTHON = \"$$ROOT_DIR/tools/$$PYTHON_DIR/python\"
     } else {
         # not found, hope it's in the path...
-        PYTHON = $$(PYTHON)
+        PYTHON = \"python\"
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/make/tools.mk b/make/tools.mk
index 17a22ca77..913b90901 100644
--- a/make/tools.mk
+++ b/make/tools.mk
@@ -690,11 +690,7 @@ ifeq ($(shell [ -d "$(PYTHON_DIR)" ] && $(ECHO) "exists"), exists)
 else
     # not installed, hope it's in the path...
     # $(info $(EMPTY) WARNING     $(call toprel, $(PYTHON_DIR)) not found, using system PATH)
-    ifeq ($(findstring Python 2,$(shell python --version)), Python 2) 
-        export PYTHON := python
-    else
-	export PYTHON := python2
-    endif
+    export PYTHON := python
 endif
 
 .PHONY: python_version