diff --git a/src/python/GNUmakefile b/src/python/GNUmakefile
index be7af11fe7..3a88e49052 100644
--- a/src/python/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/python/GNUmakefile
@@ -7,7 +7,16 @@ LIBRARY = libnwpython.a
 OBJ = python_input.o task_python.o nwchem_wrap.o nw_inp_from_string.o 
 
 ifndef PYTHONVERSION
-   PYTHONVERSION=$(shell python -V| cut -d ' ' -f 2 |cut -d . -f 1-2)
+   GOTPYTHON := $(shell command -v python 2> /dev/null)
+   GOTPYTHON2 := $(shell command -v python2 2> /dev/null)
+   GOTPYTHON3 := $(shell command -v python3 2> /dev/null)
+   ifdef GOTPYTHON3
+      PYTHONVERSION=$(shell python3 -V| cut -d ' ' -f 2 |cut -d . -f 1-2)
+   else ifdef GOTPYTHON2
+      PYTHONVERSION=$(shell python2 -V| cut -d ' ' -f 2 |cut -d . -f 1-2)
+   else ifdef GOTPYTHON
+      PYTHONVERSION=$(shell python -V| cut -d ' ' -f 2 |cut -d . -f 1-2)
+   endif
 endif
 
 LIB_INCLUDES = $(shell python$(PYTHONVERSION)-config --includes| sed -e "s/\-iwithsysroot/\-I/g")