diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 250a7700bf..b1a84bf195 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os.path
 import shutil
 import subprocess
+import sys
 import tempfile
 
 from setuptools import setup, Command
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ class PrebuildCommand(Command):
         # generate and copy coins.json to the tree
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
             build_coins = os.path.join(TREZOR_COMMON, 'defs', 'coins', 'tools', 'build_coins.py')
-            subprocess.check_call([build_coins], cwd=tmpdir)
+            subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, build_coins], cwd=tmpdir)
             shutil.copy(os.path.join(tmpdir, 'coins.json'), os.path.join(CWD, 'trezorlib', 'coins.json'))
 
         # regenerate messages