diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4228f45cd..6d1d4c562 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -376,6 +376,9 @@ endif()
 
 #### expose depends ####
 
+# fix for pyenv: default to `python3` before `python3.x`
+set(Python_FIND_UNVERSIONED_NAMES FIRST)
+
 if(UNIX)
     # Rescan for pthread and zlib if the build arch changed
     if(NOT "${DFHACK_BUILD_ARCH}" STREQUAL "${DFHACK_BUILD_ARCH_PREV}")