diff --git a/bin/sugar-activity b/bin/sugar-activity
index 00e9063c..18a69558 100644
--- a/bin/sugar-activity
+++ b/bin/sugar-activity
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
 
 # Copyright (C) 2006-2008, Red Hat, Inc.
 #
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 64650aed..d809b88e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ GNOME_COMPILE_WARNINGS(maximum)
 
 AC_PATH_PROG([GLIB_GENMARSHAL], [glib-genmarshal])
 
+PYTHON=python2
 AM_PATH_PYTHON
 AM_CHECK_PYTHON_HEADERS(,[AC_MSG_ERROR(could not find Python headers)])
 
diff --git a/tests/data/sample.activity/setup.py b/tests/data/sample.activity/setup.py
index ad218b21..9483050b 100755
--- a/tests/data/sample.activity/setup.py
+++ b/tests/data/sample.activity/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
 
 from sugar3.activity import bundlebuilder
 
diff --git a/tests/test_mime.py b/tests/test_mime.py
index 68fca5a2..4ca74728 100644
--- a/tests/test_mime.py
+++ b/tests/test_mime.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python2
 
 # Copyright (C) 2006, Red Hat, Inc.
 # Copyright (C) 2007, One Laptop Per Child