diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index f77a4443..ce8463df 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ debug: False
 # for the service setup. The host must already have
 # clouds.yaml properly configured.
 ironic_service_setup_host: "{{ openstack_service_setup_host | default('localhost') }}"
+ironic_service_setup_host_python_interpreter: "{{ openstack_service_setup_host_python_interpreter | default((ironic_service_setup_host == 'localhost') | ternary(ansible_playbook_python, ansible_python['executable'])) }}"
 
 # Comma separated list of Glance API servers
 ironic_glance_api_servers: "{{ (glance_service_internalurl | default('http://localhost')) | netorigin }}"
diff --git a/tasks/ironic_service_setup.yml b/tasks/ironic_service_setup.yml
index 0321989f..8195081e 100644
--- a/tasks/ironic_service_setup.yml
+++ b/tasks/ironic_service_setup.yml
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@
 - name: Setup the service
   delegate_to: "{{ ironic_service_setup_host }}"
   vars:
-    ansible_python_interpreter: >-
-      {{ (ironic_service_setup_host == 'localhost') | ternary(ansible_playbook_python, ansible_python['executable']) }}
+    ansible_python_interpreter: "{{ ironic_service_setup_host_python_interpreter }}"
   block:
     - name: Add service to the keystone service catalog
       os_keystone_service: