diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e134cdc7..a43817a7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -107,13 +107,13 @@ build_aux =  meson.project_source_root() / 'build-aux'
 pdate=find_program(build_aux / 'date.py')
 env = environment()
 env.set('LANG', 'C')
-mu_day_month_year = run_command(pdate, mu_date, '%d %B %Y',
+mu_day_month_year = run_command('python3', pdate, mu_date, '%d %B %Y',
                                 check:true, capture:true,
                                 env: env).stdout().strip()
-mu_month_year = run_command(pdate, mu_date, '%B %Y',
+mu_month_year = run_command('python3', pdate, mu_date, '%B %Y',
                             check:true, capture:true,
                             env: env).stdout().strip()
-mu_year = run_command(pdate, mu_date, '%Y',
+mu_year = run_command('python3', pdate, mu_date, '%Y',
                       check:true, capture:true, env: env).stdout().strip()
 
 ################################################################################