diff --git a/tools/ci/python_prefix b/tools/ci/python_prefix
index 7d78936a5..e5acc4255 100755
--- a/tools/ci/python_prefix
+++ b/tools/ci/python_prefix
@@ -1,6 +1,25 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+import argparse
 import os
 import sys
 
-print(os.path.realpath(sys.prefix))
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument("--base",
+                        action="store_true",
+                        help="print Python base prefix")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    prefix = get_python_prefix(base=args.base)
+    sys.stdout.write(prefix + '\n')
+
+
+def get_python_prefix(base=False):
+    prefix = base and getattr(sys, 'base_prefix', None) or sys.prefix
+    return os.path.realpath(prefix)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()