diff --git a/package/python/python.mk b/package/python/python.mk
index 71591b7..6a7de43 100644
--- a/package/python/python.mk
+++ b/package/python/python.mk
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ HOST_PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES = host-expat host-zlib
 
 PYTHON_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+# The PYTHON variable could be used by external python package to
+# works with both python's version (python and python3)
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON),y)
+	PYTHON = python
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON_READLINE),y)
 PYTHON_DEPENDENCIES += readline
 endif
diff --git a/package/python3/python3.mk b/package/python3/python3.mk
index 74af9b4..44136fc 100644
--- a/package/python3/python3.mk
+++ b/package/python3/python3.mk
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ HOST_PYTHON3_DEPENDENCIES = host-expat host-zlib
 
 PYTHON3_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+# The PYTHON variable could be used by external python package to
+# works with both python's version (python and python3)
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3),y)
+	PYTHON = python3
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PYTHON3_READLINE),y)
 PYTHON3_DEPENDENCIES += readline
 endif