diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index adeca6e43a..73dc56b281 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ endif
 
 check-includes:
 if USEPYTHON
-	$(top_srcdir)/scripts/maint/checkIncludes.py
+	$(PYTHON) $(top_srcdir)/scripts/maint/checkIncludes.py
 endif
 
 check-docs: all