--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ project('freetype2', 'c',
 # running an external command is required.
 
 python = import('python')
-python_exe = python.find_installation(required: true)
+python_exe = 'python3'
 
 ft2_version = run_command(python_exe,
   files('builds/meson/extract_freetype_version.py'),
