diff --git a/tests/templates/globals-default.j2 b/tests/templates/globals-default.j2
index c548417b5c..a7641fdf00 100644
--- a/tests/templates/globals-default.j2
+++ b/tests/templates/globals-default.j2
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ docker_custom_config:
   registry-mirrors:
     - {{ infra_dockerhub_mirror }}
 
+{% if kolla_python_version is defined and not is_previous_release %}
+distro_python_version: "{{ kolla_python_version }}"
+{% endif %}
+
 # Use a random router id, otherwise it may result in the same router id
 # in the CI gate.
 keepalived_virtual_router_id: "{{ 250 | random(1) }}"