diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index f68db30dd..fb2b47cd9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ if meson.is_subproject() or not get_option('tests')
   subdir_done()
 endif
 
-python = import('python').find_installation()
+python = find_program('python3')
 
 jsoncpp_test = executable(
   'jsoncpp_test', files([