diff --git a/package/qemu/qemu.mk b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
index a91f9d3eeb..283577d749 100644
--- a/package/qemu/qemu.mk
+++ b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ QEMU_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING COPYING.LIB
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------
 # Target-qemu
-
-QEMU_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf libglib2 zlib pixman
+QEMU_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf libglib2 zlib pixman host-python3
 
 # Need the LIBS variable because librt and libm are
 # not automatically pulled. :-(
@@ -132,6 +131,7 @@ define QEMU_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 			--prefix=/usr \
 			--cross-prefix=$(TARGET_CROSS) \
 			--audio-drv-list= \
+			--python=$(HOST_DIR)/bin/python3 \
 			--enable-kvm \
 			--enable-attr \
 			--enable-vhost-net \
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ $(eval $(generic-package))
 #-------------------------------------------------------------
 # Host-qemu
 
-HOST_QEMU_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf host-zlib host-libglib2 host-pixman
+HOST_QEMU_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf host-zlib host-libglib2 host-pixman host-python3
 
 #       BR ARCH         qemu
 #       -------         ----
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ define HOST_QEMU_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 		--host-cc="$(HOSTCC)" \
 		--extra-cflags="$(HOST_CFLAGS)" \
 		--extra-ldflags="$(HOST_LDFLAGS)" \
+		--python=$(HOST_DIR)/bin/python3 \
 		$(HOST_QEMU_OPTS)
 endef