diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 8f6309675..154237794 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ envlist = checkniceness,checksyntax,checkdeletions,checkbuild,checklinks
 skipsdist = True
 
 [testenv]
+basepython = python2
 setenv =
    VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt