diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a83dc89f5..613433682 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -19,10 +19,18 @@ ifeq ($(SRCDIR),build)
     MATCHCOMPILER:=yes
 endif
 ifeq ($(MATCHCOMPILER),yes)
+    # Find available Python interpreter
+    PYTHON_INTERPRETER := $(shell which python)
+    ifndef PYTHON_INTERPRETER
+        PYTHON_INTERPRETER := $(shell which python3)
+    endif
+    ifndef PYTHON_INTERPRETER
+        $(error Did not find a Python interpreter)
+    endif
     ifdef VERIFY
-        matchcompiler_S := $(shell python tools/matchcompiler.py --verify)
+        matchcompiler_S := $(shell $(PYTHON_INTERPRETER) tools/matchcompiler.py --verify)
     else
-        matchcompiler_S := $(shell python tools/matchcompiler.py)
+        matchcompiler_S := $(shell $(PYTHON_INTERPRETER) tools/matchcompiler.py)
     endif
     libcppdir:=build
 else
diff --git a/tools/dmake.cpp b/tools/dmake.cpp
index d700c4272..d786cee48 100644
--- a/tools/dmake.cpp
+++ b/tools/dmake.cpp
@@ -231,10 +231,18 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
          << "    MATCHCOMPILER:=yes\n"
          << "endif\n";
     fout << "ifeq ($(MATCHCOMPILER),yes)\n"
+         << "    # Find available Python interpreter\n"
+         << "    PYTHON_INTERPRETER := $(shell which python)\n"
+         << "    ifndef PYTHON_INTERPRETER\n"
+         << "        PYTHON_INTERPRETER := $(shell which python3)\n"
+         << "    endif\n"
+         << "    ifndef PYTHON_INTERPRETER\n"
+         << "        $(error Did not find a Python interpreter)\n"
+         << "    endif\n"
          << "    ifdef VERIFY\n"
-         << "        matchcompiler_S := $(shell python tools/matchcompiler.py --verify)\n"
+         << "        matchcompiler_S := $(shell $(PYTHON_INTERPRETER) tools/matchcompiler.py --verify)\n"
          << "    else\n"
-         << "        matchcompiler_S := $(shell python tools/matchcompiler.py)\n"
+         << "        matchcompiler_S := $(shell $(PYTHON_INTERPRETER) tools/matchcompiler.py)\n"
          << "    endif\n"
          << "    libcppdir:=build\n"
          << "else\n"