diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 42b41b447c9e1d190af6bb81882f8f050905d932..2d42e20a969739d7bce6efead7ac816add423a8a 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ nodist_TESTS =
 
 TESTS = $(dist_TESTS) $(nodist_TESTS)
 
-TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = PYTHONPATH=.:$(top_builddir)
+TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = PYTHONPATH=.:$(top_builddir) $(PYTHON)
 
 RAPI_RESOURCES = $(wildcard lib/rapi/*.py)