diff --git a/elements/package-installs/extra-data.d/99-squash-package-install b/elements/package-installs/extra-data.d/99-squash-package-install
index b107f338c..1f3e6a8c0 100755
--- a/elements/package-installs/extra-data.d/99-squash-package-install
+++ b/elements/package-installs/extra-data.d/99-squash-package-install
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ fi
 set -eu
 set -o pipefail
 
-python_path=$(command -v python2 || command -v python3)
+# Search for python first in case we are in a venv with python3 which
+# should take precedence
+python_path=$(command -v python || command -v python2 || command -v python3)
 
 sudo -E $python_path $(dirname $0)/../bin/package-installs-squash --elements="$IMAGE_ELEMENT" --path=$ELEMENTS_PATH $TMP_MOUNT_PATH/tmp/package-installs.json