diff --git a/zuul.d/base.yaml b/zuul.d/base.yaml
index 0271498459..ace8aaccdc 100644
--- a/zuul.d/base.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/base.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@
     vars:
       scenario: aio
       enable_core_openstack: yes
+    host-vars:
+      primary:
+        ansible_python_interpreter: python2
+      secondary1:
+        ansible_python_interpreter: python2
+      secondary2:
+        ansible_python_interpreter: python2
     roles:
       - zuul: zuul/zuul-jobs