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