diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index ce5d226..a7a7ef4 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ zun_ceilometer_enabled: False
 ## Verbosity Options
 debug: False
 
+#python venv executable
+zun_venv_python_executable: "{{ openstack_venv_python_executable | default('python2') }}"
+
 # Set the host which will execute the shade modules
 # for the service setup. The host must already have
 # clouds.yaml properly configured.
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 7df5e8a..5d315bd 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
   import_role:
     name: "python_venv_build"
   vars:
+    venv_python_executable: "{{ zun_venv_python_executable }}"
     venv_build_constraints: "{{ zun_git_constraints }}"
     venv_install_destination_path: "{{ zun_bin | dirname }}"
     venv_install_distro_package_list: "{{ zun_distro_packages }}"