--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ EXTRA_DIST = maketest.py plugin_collection.py reader.py error.py plugins
 
 # try to find a supported python version (>= 3.7) that works
 check-local:
-	for v in $$(seq 20 -1 7); do command -v python3.$$v && break; done || ( echo "Python 3.7 or later not found" && false )
-	for v in $$(seq 20 -1 7); do command -v python3.$$v && python3.$$v $(srcdir)/maketest.py --debug=10 --libs=$(SSLDIR)/lib64:$(SSLDIR)/lib && break; done
+	${EPYTHON} $(srcdir)/maketest.py --debug=10 --libs=$(SSLDIR)/lib64:$(SSLDIR)/lib
 
 dist-hook:
 	rm -rf $(distdir)/__pycache__ $(distdir)/plugins/__pycache__