diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5a62472c38..843511a60b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ Additional components:
 The subdirectories above may include READMEs with additional info.
 
 "make" is used to build the components, or "gmake" on BSD-based systems.
-You will also need bash, gcc, and Python (at least 2.7 or 3.3).
+You will also need bash, gcc, and Python 3.3+ available as the command `python3`
+(if your system only has Python 2.7 then invoke make with the additional option
+`PYTHON=python2`).
 
 The Unix version
 ----------------
diff --git a/py/mkenv.mk b/py/mkenv.mk
index 2c9c86a7ae..87e92ec6f9 100644
--- a/py/mkenv.mk
+++ b/py/mkenv.mk
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ ECHO = @echo
 CP = cp
 MKDIR = mkdir
 SED = sed
-PYTHON = python
+PYTHON = python3
 
 AS = $(CROSS_COMPILE)as
 CC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc