diff --git a/package/python-m2crypto/python-m2crypto.mk b/package/python-m2crypto/python-m2crypto.mk
index dd0f77e8c..7e46f1d3b 100644
--- a/package/python-m2crypto/python-m2crypto.mk
+++ b/package/python-m2crypto/python-m2crypto.mk
@@ -10,12 +10,16 @@ PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_SOURCE = M2Crypto-$(PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_VERSION).tar.gz
 PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_SETUP_TYPE = setuptools
 HOST_PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_DEPENDENCIES = host-openssl host-swig
 
-# We need to override the build commands to be able to use build_ext,
-# which accepts the --openssl option.
+# We need to use python2 because m2crypto is not python3 compliant.
+HOST_PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_NEEDS_HOST_PYTHON = python2
+
+# * We need to override the build commands to be able to use build_ext,
+#   which accepts the --openssl option.
+# * Use python2 interpreter to avoid trying building some python3 objects.
 define HOST_PYTHON_M2CRYPTO_BUILD_CMDS
 	(cd $(@D); \
 		$(HOST_PKG_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS_ENV) \
-		$(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/python setup.py build_ext \
+		$(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/python2 setup.py build_ext \
 			--openssl=$(HOST_DIR)/usr)
 endef