diff --git a/package/python-cheetah/python-cheetah.mk b/package/python-cheetah/python-cheetah.mk
index 7354190cf3..af7d1f5494 100644
--- a/package/python-cheetah/python-cheetah.mk
+++ b/package/python-cheetah/python-cheetah.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ PYTHON_CHEETAH_SITE = http://pypi.python.org/packages/source/C/Cheetah
 PYTHON_CHEETAH_LICENSE = MIT
 PYTHON_CHEETAH_SETUP_TYPE = setuptools
 
+HOST_PYTHON_CHEETAH_NEEDS_HOST_PYTHON = python2
+
 # The dependency on host-python-markdown is needed to prevent
 # setuptools from downloading markdown if it is not installed yet.
 HOST_PYTHON_CHEETAH_DEPENDENCIES = host-python-markdown