diff --git a/selinux/__init__.py b/selinux/__init__.py
index 1ce170c..e155db2 100644
--- a/selinux/__init__.py
+++ b/selinux/__init__.py
@@ -59,8 +59,11 @@ def add_location(location):
         return False
 
     def get_system_sitepackages():
-        """Get sitepackage locations from sytem python"""
-        system_python = sys.executable
+        """Get sitepackage locations from system python"""
+        # Do not ever use sys.executable here
+        # See https://github.com/pycontribs/selinux/issues/17 for details
+        system_python = "/usr/bin/python%s" % \
+            platform.python_version_tuple()[0]
 
         system_sitepackages = json.loads(
             subprocess.check_output([