diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index f474b1a1b..c738ec96c 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ minversion = 2.3
 skipsdist = True
 
 [testenv]
-basepython = python3
 install_command = pip install -c{env:UPPER_CONSTRAINTS_FILE:https://git.openstack.org/cgit/openstack/requirements/plain/upper-constraints.txt?h=stable/pike} {opts} {packages}
 setenv =
     VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
@@ -50,10 +49,12 @@ basepython = python3.4
 commands = oslo_debug_helper {posargs}
 
 [testenv:pep8]
+basepython = python3
 deps = hacking<0.11,>=0.10.2
 commands = flake8
 
 [testenv:venv]
+basepython = python3
 commands = {posargs}
 
 [testenv:cover]
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ commands =
 whitelist_externals = rm
 
 [testenv:newnote]
+basepython = python3
 # Re-use the releasenotes venv
 envdir = {toxworkdir}/releasenotes
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ commands =
 whitelist_externals = rm
 
 [testenv:debug]
+basepython = python3
 commands = oslo_debug_helper {posargs}
 
 [flake8]
@@ -109,6 +112,7 @@ builtins = _
 exclude=.venv,.git,.tox,dist,doc,*openstack/common*,*lib/python*,*egg,build
 
 [testenv:genconfig]
+basepython = python3
 commands =
     oslo-config-generator --config-file=tools/config-generator.conf
 
@@ -125,6 +129,7 @@ commands =
      pylint {posargs} dcmanager dcorch --rcfile=./pylint.rc 
 
 [testenv:linters]
+basepython = python3
 # bashate ignore:
 #  E006 - accept long lines
 #  E040 - false positive on |& syntax (new in bash 4)