diff --git a/package/qemu/qemu.mk b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
index 4b8f0f4d55..818269775d 100644
--- a/package/qemu/qemu.mk
+++ b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ QEMU_OPTS =
 
 QEMU_VARS = \
 	LIBTOOL=$(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/libtool \
-	PYTHON=$(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/python \
+	PYTHON=$(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/python2 \
 	PYTHONPATH=$(TARGET_DIR)/usr/lib/python$(PYTHON_VERSION_MAJOR)/site-packages
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_QEMU_SYSTEM),y)