diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/default.nix
index 6369750c4b6f359..dc9b57304d6bf09 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/default.nix
@@ -573,6 +573,6 @@ in with passthru; stdenv.mkDerivation {
     license = licenses.psfl;
     platforms = platforms.linux ++ platforms.darwin;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ fridh ];
-    mainProgram = "python3";
+    mainProgram = executable;
   };
 }