diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index 0661a1cf9855..2171f02daf59 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ endif
 # defined. get-executable-or-default fails with an error if the first argument is supplied but
 # doesn't exist.
 override PYTHON_CONFIG := $(call get-executable-or-default,PYTHON_CONFIG,$(PYTHON_AUTO))
-override PYTHON := $(call get-executable-or-default,PYTHON,$(subst -config,,$(PYTHON_AUTO)))
+override PYTHON := $(call get-executable-or-default,PYTHON,$(subst -config,,$(PYTHON_CONFIG)))
 
 grep-libs  = $(filter -l%,$(1))
 strip-libs  = $(filter-out -l%,$(1))