diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/e/easybuildmeta.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/e/easybuildmeta.py
index 96131f7950b..f083426ec90 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/e/easybuildmeta.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/e/easybuildmeta.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 import copy
 import os
 import re
+import sys
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 
 from easybuild.easyblocks.generic.pythonpackage import PythonPackage
@@ -65,6 +66,17 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             # consider setuptools first, in case it is listed as a sources
             self.easybuild_pkgs.insert(0, 'setuptools')
 
+    # Override this function since we want to respect the user choice for the python installation to use
+    # (which can be influenced by EB_PYTHON and EB_INSTALLPYTHON)
+    def prepare_python(self):
+        """Python-specific preparations."""
+
+        self.python_cmd = sys.executable
+        # set Python lib directories
+        self.set_pylibdirs()
+
+        self.log.info("Python command being used: %s", self.python_cmd)
+
     def check_readiness_step(self):
         """Make sure EasyBuild can be installed with a loaded EasyBuild module."""
         env_var_name = get_software_root_env_var_name(self.name)
diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/pythonpackage.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/pythonpackage.py
index 973a7410856..6211e038dd9 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/pythonpackage.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/pythonpackage.py
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def set_pylibdirs(self):
         self.pylibdir = self.all_pylibdirs[0]
 
     def prepare_python(self):
-        """Python-specific preperations."""
+        """Python-specific preparations."""
 
         # pick 'python' command to use
         python = None