diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -73,17 +73,17 @@ if test "$cross_compiling" = yes; then
 	        break
 	    fi
             interp=
 	done
         if test x$interp = x; then
 	    AC_MSG_ERROR([python$PACKAGE_VERSION interpreter not found])
 	fi
         AC_MSG_RESULT($interp)
-	PYTHON_FOR_BUILD='_PYTHON_PROJECT_BASE=$(abs_builddir) _PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM=$(_PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM) PYTHONPATH=$(shell test -f pybuilddir.txt && echo $(abs_builddir)/`cat pybuilddir.txt`:)$(srcdir)/Lib:$(srcdir)/Lib/$(PLATDIR) '$interp
+	PYTHON_FOR_BUILD='/usr/bin/env _PYTHON_PROJECT_BASE=$(abs_builddir) _PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM=$(_PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM) PYTHONPATH=$(shell test -f pybuilddir.txt && echo $(abs_builddir)/`cat pybuilddir.txt`:)$(srcdir)/Lib:$(srcdir)/Lib/$(PLATDIR) '$interp
     fi
     # Used to comment out stuff for rebuilding generated files
     GENERATED_COMMENT='#'
 elif test "$cross_compiling" = maybe; then
     AC_MSG_ERROR([Cross compiling required --host=HOST-TUPLE and --build=ARCH])
 else
     PYTHON_FOR_BUILD='./$(BUILDPYTHON) -E'
     GENERATED_COMMENT=''