diff --git a/common.gypi b/common.gypi
index 8bb62125882..4bca61a2561 100644
--- a/common.gypi
+++ b/common.gypi
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
     'msvs_multi_core_compile': '0',  # we do enable multicore compiles, but not using the V8 way
     'gcc_version%': 'unknown',
     'clang%': 0,
+    'python%': 'python',
 
     # Turn on optimizations that may trigger compiler bugs.
     # Use at your own risk. Do *NOT* report bugs if this option is enabled.
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index bf27cbdaf6e..2778da276df 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ def configure_openssl(o):
 
 
 output = {
-  'variables': {},
+  'variables': { 'python': sys.executable },
   'include_dirs': [],
   'libraries': [],
   'defines': [],
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@ config = {
   'BUILDTYPE': 'Debug' if options.debug else 'Release',
   'USE_NINJA': str(int(options.use_ninja or 0)),
   'USE_XCODE': str(int(options.use_xcode or 0)),
+  'PYTHON': sys.executable,
 }
 config = '\n'.join(map('='.join, config.iteritems())) + '\n'
 
diff --git a/deps/v8/Makefile b/deps/v8/Makefile
index 8db3193860c..f688f18b7ce 100644
--- a/deps/v8/Makefile
+++ b/deps/v8/Makefile
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 # THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
 # (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
 # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+PYTHON ?= python
 
 
 # Variable default definitions. Override them by exporting them in your shell.
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ ifeq ($(hardfp), on)
   GYPFLAGS += -Dv8_use_arm_eabi_hardfloat=true
 endif
 
+GYPFLAGS += "-Dpython=$(PYTHON)"
+
 # ----------------- available targets: --------------------
 # - "dependencies": pulls in external dependencies (currently: GYP)
 # - any arch listed in ARCHES (see below)
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ $(BUILDS): $(OUTDIR)/Makefile.$$(basename $$@)
 	@$(MAKE) -C "$(OUTDIR)" -f Makefile.$(basename $@) \
 	         CXX="$(CXX)" LINK="$(LINK)" \
 	         BUILDTYPE=$(shell echo $(subst .,,$(suffix $@)) | \
-	                     python -c "print raw_input().capitalize()") \
+	                     $(PYTHON) -c "print raw_input().capitalize()") \
 	         builddir="$(shell pwd)/$(OUTDIR)/$@"
 
 native: $(OUTDIR)/Makefile.native
@@ -250,14 +253,14 @@ clean: $(addsuffix .clean, $(ARCHES) $(ANDROID_ARCHES)) native.clean
 OUT_MAKEFILES = $(addprefix $(OUTDIR)/Makefile.,$(ARCHES))
 $(OUT_MAKEFILES): $(GYPFILES) $(ENVFILE)
 	GYP_GENERATORS=make \
-	build/gyp/gyp --generator-output="$(OUTDIR)" build/all.gyp \
+	$(PYTHON) build/gyp/gyp --generator-output="$(OUTDIR)" build/all.gyp \
 	              -Ibuild/standalone.gypi --depth=. \
 	              -Dv8_target_arch=$(subst .,,$(suffix $@)) \
 	              -S.$(subst .,,$(suffix $@)) $(GYPFLAGS)
 
 $(OUTDIR)/Makefile.native: $(GYPFILES) $(ENVFILE)
 	GYP_GENERATORS=make \
-	build/gyp/gyp --generator-output="$(OUTDIR)" build/all.gyp \
+	$(PYTHON) build/gyp/gyp --generator-output="$(OUTDIR)" build/all.gyp \
 	              -Ibuild/standalone.gypi --depth=. -S.native $(GYPFLAGS)
 
 must-set-ANDROID_NDK_ROOT_OR_TOOLCHAIN:
diff --git a/deps/v8/build/common.gypi b/deps/v8/build/common.gypi
index 7997c54d3c7..426d625675b 100644
--- a/deps/v8/build/common.gypi
+++ b/deps/v8/build/common.gypi
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@
     # Interpreted regexp engine exists as platform-independent alternative
     # based where the regular expression is compiled to a bytecode.
     'v8_interpreted_regexp%': 0,
+
+    # Name of the python executable.
+    'python%': 'python',
   },
   'target_defaults': {
     'conditions': [
diff --git a/deps/v8/src/d8.gyp b/deps/v8/src/d8.gyp
index a8361e6b4e5..2aa94ccf92d 100644
--- a/deps/v8/src/d8.gyp
+++ b/deps/v8/src/d8.gyp
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
             '<(SHARED_INTERMEDIATE_DIR)/d8-js.cc',
           ],
           'action': [
-            'python',
+            '<(python)',
             '../tools/js2c.py',
             '<@(_outputs)',
             'D8',
diff --git a/deps/v8/test/cctest/cctest.gyp b/deps/v8/test/cctest/cctest.gyp
index 66d848c5c14..7624d5b5d61 100644
--- a/deps/v8/test/cctest/cctest.gyp
+++ b/deps/v8/test/cctest/cctest.gyp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
             '<(generated_file)',
           ],
           'action': [
-            'python',
+            '<(python)',
             '../../tools/js2c.py',
             '<@(_outputs)',
             'TEST',  # type
diff --git a/deps/v8/tools/gyp/v8.gyp b/deps/v8/tools/gyp/v8.gyp
index 17ced879eff..d57672c57ae 100644
--- a/deps/v8/tools/gyp/v8.gyp
+++ b/deps/v8/tools/gyp/v8.gyp
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@
                 '<(SHARED_INTERMEDIATE_DIR)/libraries.cc',
               ],
               'action': [
-                'python',
+                '<(python)',
                 '../../tools/js2c.py',
                 '<@(_outputs)',
                 'CORE',
@@ -814,7 +814,7 @@
                 '<(SHARED_INTERMEDIATE_DIR)/experimental-libraries.cc',
               ],
               'action': [
-                'python',
+                '<(python)',
                 '../../tools/js2c.py',
                 '<@(_outputs)',
                 'EXPERIMENTAL',
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@
                   '<(SHARED_INTERMEDIATE_DIR)/debug-support.cc',
                 ],
                 'action': [
-                  'python',
+                  '<(python)',
                   '../../tools/gen-postmortem-metadata.py',
                   '<@(_outputs)',
                   '<@(heapobject_files)'
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index 287d897306f..b9f72810833 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -314,14 +314,14 @@
               ' or node_use_systemtap=="true"',
             {
               'action': [
-                'python',
+                '<(python)',
                 'tools/js2c.py',
                 '<@(_outputs)',
                 '<@(_inputs)',
               ],
             }, { # No Dtrace
               'action': [
-                'python',
+                '<(python)',
                 'tools/js2c.py',
                 '<@(_outputs)',
                 '<@(_inputs)',