diff --git a/ros2pkg/ros2pkg/resource/ament_python/setup.cfg.em b/ros2pkg/ros2pkg/resource/ament_python/setup.cfg.em
index 1538e0172..ae01cd9f7 100644
--- a/ros2pkg/ros2pkg/resource/ament_python/setup.cfg.em
+++ b/ros2pkg/ros2pkg/resource/ament_python/setup.cfg.em
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 script_dir=$base/lib/@(project_name)
 [install]
 install_scripts=$base/lib/@(project_name)
+[build]
+executable=/usr/bin/env python3