diff --git a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
index 906fa5ade2..cfdb73f02d 100644
--- a/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
+++ b/easybuild/easyblocks/generic/cmakemake.py
@@ -289,10 +289,10 @@ def configure_step(self, srcdir=None, builddir=None):
         if python_root:
             python_version = LooseVersion(get_software_version('Python'))
             python_exe = os.path.join(python_root, 'bin', 'python')
-            options['Python_EXECUTABLE'] = python_exe
-            # This is needed if someone is still using `find_package(PythonInterp ...)` in their CMakeLists.txt
+            # This is required for (deprecated) `find_package(PythonInterp ...)`
             options['PYTHON_EXECUTABLE'] = python_exe
             # Ensure that both `find_package(Python) and find_package(Python2/3)` work as intended
+            options['Python_EXECUTABLE'] = python_exe
             if python_version >= "3":
                 options['Python3_EXECUTABLE'] = python_exe
             else: