diff --git a/app-tools/meson.build b/app-tools/meson.build
index a466cb0adc..fcdf80f7ee 100644
--- a/app-tools/meson.build
+++ b/app-tools/meson.build
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ if enable_default_bin
                     pointing_to: fs.name(gimp_debug_tool.full_path()),
                     install_dir: gimp_debug_tool_dir)
   else
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
                              gimp_debug_tool.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimp_debug_tool.name()).replace(exec_ver, '.exe'))
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
                              gimp_debug_tool.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimp_debug_tool.name()).replace(exec_ver, '-@0@.exe'), api_version_major.to_string())
   endif
 endif
diff --git a/app/meson.build b/app/meson.build
index 47aa5f791d..dcc4c40ce8 100644
--- a/app/meson.build
+++ b/app/meson.build
@@ -240,9 +240,9 @@ if enable_default_bin
                     pointing_to: fs.name(gimpmain_exe.full_path()),
                     install_dir: get_option('bindir'))
   else
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
                              gimpmain_exe.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimpmain_exe.name()).replace(exec_ver, '.exe'))
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
                              gimpmain_exe.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimpmain_exe.name()).replace(exec_ver, '-@0@.exe'), api_version_major.to_string())
   endif
   if enable_console_bin
@@ -254,9 +254,9 @@ if enable_default_bin
                       pointing_to: fs.name(gimpconsole_exe.full_path()),
                       install_dir: get_option('bindir'))
     else
-      meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
+      meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
                                gimpconsole_exe.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimpconsole_exe.name()).replace(exec_ver, '.exe'))
-      meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
+      meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
                                gimpconsole_exe.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimpconsole_exe.name()).replace(exec_ver, '-@0@.exe'), api_version_major.to_string())
     endif
   endif
diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index 2e5eb35c77..a5ae00f1ad 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ subdir('tips')
 subdir('tool-presets')
 
 
-meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c',
+meson.add_install_script(python, '-c',
   'from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; Path(argv[1]).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)', get_option('prefix') / gimpdatadir / 'fonts'
 )
 
diff --git a/plug-ins/pagecurl/meson.build b/plug-ins/pagecurl/meson.build
index 5643091ae8..1c44a55d39 100644
--- a/plug-ins/pagecurl/meson.build
+++ b/plug-ins/pagecurl/meson.build
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ xml_content += '</gresources>\n'
 
 xml_file = configure_file(
   output: resourcename + '.gresource.xml',
-  command: [ 'python3','-c','import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.argv[1])',xml_content ],
+  command: [ python,'-c','import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.argv[1])',xml_content ],
   capture: true,
 )
 
diff --git a/plug-ins/screenshot/meson.build b/plug-ins/screenshot/meson.build
index ac2ccf4416..0f2d02c430 100644
--- a/plug-ins/screenshot/meson.build
+++ b/plug-ins/screenshot/meson.build
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ xml_content += '</gresources>\n'
 
 xml_file = configure_file(
   output: resourcename + '.gresource.xml',
-  command: [ 'python3','-c','import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.argv[1])',xml_content ],
+  command: [ python,'-c','import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.argv[1])',xml_content ],
   capture: true,
 )
 
diff --git a/tools/meson.build b/tools/meson.build
index 1251ae59fd..b34b5cb60c 100644
--- a/tools/meson.build
+++ b/tools/meson.build
@@ -61,13 +61,14 @@ if enable_default_bin
                     pointing_to: fs.name(gimp_test_clipboard.full_path()),
                     install_dir: get_option('bindir'))
   else
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
                              gimptool.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimptool.name()).replace(exec_ver, '.exe'))
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
                              gimptool.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimptool.name()).replace(exec_ver, '-@0@.exe'), api_version_major.to_string())
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
+
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3]))',
                              gimp_test_clipboard.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimp_test_clipboard.name()).replace(exec_ver, '.exe'))
-    meson.add_install_script('python3', '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
+    meson.add_install_script(python, '-c', 'from shutil import copy2; from pathlib import Path; from sys import argv; copy2(argv[1], str(Path(argv[2]) / "bin" / argv[3].replace("@0@", argv[4])))',
                              gimp_test_clipboard.full_path(), get_option('prefix'), fs.name(gimp_test_clipboard.name()).replace(exec_ver, '-@0@.exe'), api_version_major.to_string())
   endif
 endif