diff --git a/configure b/configure
index a3730bc438ef1a..de6fde6d91357c 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ def configure_intl(o):
   return  # end of configure_intl
 
 output = {
-  'variables': { 'python': sys.executable },
+  'variables': {},
   'include_dirs': [],
   'libraries': [],
   'defines': [],
diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index 49c3cc170b7113..d549e18c050cef 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@
             }]
           ],
           'action': [
-            '<(python)',
+            'python',
             'tools/js2c.py',
             '<@(_outputs)',
             '<@(_inputs)',