diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 81aaab6a..b0a799f2 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ minversion = 2.3
 skipsdist = True
 
 [testenv]
-basepython = python3
 install_command = pip install -U {opts} {packages}
 setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
          OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=1
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@ deps = -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
        {[testenv]tsconfig_dir}
 
 [testenv:linters]
+basepython = python3
 whitelist_externals = bash
 commands =
   bash -c "find {toxinidir}        \
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ exclude = .venv,.git,.tox,dist,doc,*lib/python*,*egg,build,release-tag-*
 
 # Use flake8 to replace pep8.
 [testenv:pep8]
+basepython = python3
 usedevelop = False
 skip_install = True
 deps =
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ commands =
     flake8
 
 [testenv:venv]
+basepython = python3
 commands = {posargs}
 
 [nosetests]
@@ -130,6 +132,7 @@ whitelist_externals =
     reno
 
 [testenv:newnote]
+basepython = python3
 # Re-use the releasenotes venv
 envdir = {toxworkdir}/releasenotes
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt