diff --git a/images/capi/packer/qemu/packer.json b/images/capi/packer/qemu/packer.json
index 0fb0663f98..a14fc9f68e 100644
--- a/images/capi/packer/qemu/packer.json
+++ b/images/capi/packer/qemu/packer.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "variables": {
     "ansible_common_vars": "",
-    "ansible_extra_vars": "",
+    "ansible_extra_vars": "ansible_python_interpreter=/usr/bin/python3",
     "boot_wait": "10s",
     "build_timestamp": "{{timestamp}}",
     "containerd_version": null,