diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 659eb893d..c866cdc6e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ PREFIX ?= /usr/local
 BINDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/bin
 MANDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/man
 SHAREDIR ?= $(PREFIX)/share
-PYTHON ?= /usr/bin/env python
+PYTHON ?= /usr/bin/env python3
 
 # set SYSCONFDIR to /etc if PREFIX=/usr or PREFIX=/usr/local
 SYSCONFDIR = $(shell if [ $(PREFIX) = /usr -o $(PREFIX) = /usr/local ]; then echo /etc; else echo $(PREFIX)/etc; fi)