diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index acc9c7da80..1526bbc1e5 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ else()
 	message(STATUS "catkin DISABLED")
 endif()
 
-find_package(PythonInterp REQUIRED)
+find_package(PythonInterp 2.7 REQUIRED)
 
 #=============================================================================
 # cmake modules