diff --git a/makepanda/makepanda.py b/makepanda/makepanda.py
index 776c289065..b2a6baf72f 100755
--- a/makepanda/makepanda.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepanda.py
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ SdkLocateDirectX()
 SdkLocateMaya()
 SdkLocateMax()
 SdkLocateMacOSX(OSXTARGET)
-SdkLocatePython()
+SdkLocatePython(RTDIST)
 SdkLocateVisualStudio()
 SdkLocateMSPlatform()
 
diff --git a/makepanda/makepandacore.py b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
index 8eb7624b20..4bebf01ce8 100644
--- a/makepanda/makepandacore.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
@@ -1299,9 +1299,9 @@ def SdkLocateMax():
                         if (os.path.isdir(top + "\\" + subdir)!=0):
                             SDK[version+"CS"] = top + subdir
 
-def SdkLocatePython():
-    if (PkgSkip("PYTHON")==0):
-        if (sys.platform == "win32" and not RTDIST):
+def SdkLocatePython(force_use_sys_executable = False):
+    if (PkgSkip("PYTHON")==0 and not force_use_sys_executable):
+        if (sys.platform == "win32"):
             SDK["PYTHON"] = "thirdparty/win-python"
             if (GetOptimize() <= 2):
                 SDK["PYTHON"] += "-dbg"