diff --git a/config/python.m4 b/config/python.m4
index f3c76422296..0fa1e3e80d5 100644
--- a/config/python.m4
+++ b/config/python.m4
@@ -8,8 +8,15 @@
 # ----------------
 # Look for Python and set the output variable 'PYTHON' if found,
 # fail otherwise.
+#
+# As the Python 3 transition happens and PEP 394 isn't updated, we
+# need to cater to systems that don't have unversioned "python" by
+# default.  Some systems ship with "python3" by default and perhaps
+# have "python" in an optional package.  Some systems only have
+# "python2" and "python3", in which case it's reasonable to prefer the
+# newer version.
 AC_DEFUN([PGAC_PATH_PYTHON],
-[PGAC_PATH_PROGS(PYTHON, python)
+[PGAC_PATH_PROGS(PYTHON, [python python3 python2])
 if test x"$PYTHON" = x""; then
   AC_MSG_ERROR([Python not found])
 fi
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index dca2d2dbf13..c1f67c445e4 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -8031,7 +8031,7 @@ fi
 
 if test "$with_python" = yes; then
   if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
-  for ac_prog in python
+  for ac_prog in python python3 python2
 do
   # Extract the first word of "$ac_prog", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy $ac_prog; ac_word=$2
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/installation.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/installation.sgml
index c5acb1dbfb4..57031c400ba 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/installation.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/installation.sgml
@@ -1473,7 +1473,8 @@ su - postgres
          <![%standalone-include[the <application>PL/Python</>
          documentation]]>
          <![%standalone-ignore[<xref linkend="plpython-python23">]]>
-         for more information.  The default is <command>python</command>.
+         for more information.  If this is not set, the following are probed
+         in this order: <literal>python python3 python2</literal>.
         </para>
        </listitem>
       </varlistentry>