diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 29884d8241..c49233b36c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ ifneq (,$(findstring varlink,$(BUILDTAGS)))
 	PODMAN_VARLINK_DEPENDENCIES = cmd/podman/varlink/iopodman.go
 endif
 
-PYTHON ?= /usr/bin/python3
 HAS_PYTHON3 := $(shell command -v python3 2>/dev/null)
 
 BASHINSTALLDIR=${PREFIX}/share/bash-completion/completions