diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 9ed18be..b1b95e7 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+#python venv executable
+rally_venv_python_executable: "{{ openstack_venv_python_executable | default('python2') }}"
+
 # Set the package install state for distribution and pip packages
 # Options are 'present' and 'latest'
 rally_package_state: "latest"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 546d32b..49a20c6 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
   import_role:
     name: "python_venv_build"
   vars:
+    venv_python_executable: "{{ rally_venv_python_executable }}"
     venv_build_constraints: "{{ rally_git_constraints }}"
     venv_install_destination_path: "{{ rally_bin | dirname }}"
     venv_install_distro_package_list: "{{ rally_distro_packages }}"