diff --git a/bin/run_tests.py b/bin/run_tests.py
index 9264e2be..bcae61c5 100755
--- a/bin/run_tests.py
+++ b/bin/run_tests.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     ### run the unit tests
 
-    subprocess.check_call(['python', '-m', 'pytest', 'unit_test'])
+    subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, '-m', 'pytest', 'unit_test'])
 
     ### run the integration tests