diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index ca4b93a1..0d719f0b 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ minversion = 2.0
 envlist = py35,py27,pep8
 
 [testenv]
-basepython = python3
 install_command = pip install {opts} {packages}
 deps =
   -c{env:UPPER_CONSTRAINTS_FILE:https://git.openstack.org/cgit/openstack/requirements/plain/upper-constraints.txt}
@@ -15,15 +14,18 @@ commands = python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args='{posargs}'
 basepython = python2.7
 
 [testenv:pep8]
+basepython = python3
 commands =
   flake8
   # Run security linter
   bandit -r oslo_utils -x tests -n5
 
 [testenv:venv]
+basepython = python3
 commands = {posargs}
 
 [testenv:docs]
+basepython = python3
 whitelist_externals = rm
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt
 commands =
@@ -31,9 +33,11 @@ commands =
     sphinx-build -W -b html doc/source doc/build/html
 
 [testenv:cover]
+basepython = python3
 commands = python setup.py test --coverage --coverage-package-name=oslo_utils --testr-args='{posargs}'
 
 [testenv:bandit]
+basepython = python3
 commands = bandit -r oslo_utils -x tests -n5
 
 [flake8]
@@ -42,10 +46,12 @@ show-source = True
 exclude=.venv,.git,.tox,dist,doc,*lib/python*,*egg,build,__init__.py
 
 [testenv:releasenotes]
+basepython = python3
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt
 commands = sphinx-build -a -E -W -d releasenotes/build/doctrees -b html releasenotes/source releasenotes/build/html
 
 [testenv:lower-constraints]
+basepython = python3
 deps =
   -c{toxinidir}/lower-constraints.txt
   -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt