diff --git a/py/mkenv.mk b/py/mkenv.mk
index b167b2533d..2c9c86a7ae 100644
--- a/py/mkenv.mk
+++ b/py/mkenv.mk
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ CXX += -m32
 LD += -m32
 endif
 
-MAKE_FROZEN = $(TOP)/tools/make-frozen.py
+MAKE_FROZEN = $(PYTHON) $(TOP)/tools/make-frozen.py
 MPY_CROSS = $(TOP)/mpy-cross/mpy-cross
-MPY_TOOL = $(TOP)/tools/mpy-tool.py
+MPY_TOOL = $(PYTHON) $(TOP)/tools/mpy-tool.py
 
 all:
 .PHONY: all
diff --git a/py/mkrules.mk b/py/mkrules.mk
index 13545eb6f0..72a5c3de06 100644
--- a/py/mkrules.mk
+++ b/py/mkrules.mk
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ $(BUILD)/frozen_mpy/%.mpy: $(FROZEN_MPY_DIR)/%.py $(TOP)/mpy-cross/mpy-cross
 # to build frozen_mpy.c from all .mpy files
 $(BUILD)/frozen_mpy.c: $(FROZEN_MPY_MPY_FILES) $(BUILD)/genhdr/qstrdefs.generated.h
 	@$(ECHO) "Creating $@"
-	$(Q)$(PYTHON) $(MPY_TOOL) -f -q $(BUILD)/genhdr/qstrdefs.preprocessed.h $(FROZEN_MPY_MPY_FILES) > $@
+	$(Q)$(MPY_TOOL) -f -q $(BUILD)/genhdr/qstrdefs.preprocessed.h $(FROZEN_MPY_MPY_FILES) > $@
 endif
 
 ifneq ($(PROG),)