diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 20e1a348e..985f2ffb0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ if test x"${PYBIN}" = xno; then
 else
   # First figure out the name of the Python executable
   if test "x$PYBIN" = xyes; then
-    AC_CHECK_PROGS(PYTHON, [python python2.8 python2.7 python2.6 python2.5 python2.4 python2.3 python2.2 python2.1 python2.0])
+    AC_CHECK_PROGS(PYTHON, [python python2.7])
   else
     PYTHON="$PYBIN"
   fi