diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 963d5ee2..518f63a6 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ minversion = 2.3
 skipsdist = True
 
 [testenv]
-basepython = python3
 install_command = pip install -c{env:UPPER_CONSTRAINTS_FILE:https://git.openstack.org/cgit/openstack/requirements/plain/upper-constraints.txt} {opts} {packages}
 setenv = VIRTUAL_ENV={envdir}
          OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=1
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ deps = -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
 whitelist_externals = reno
 
 [testenv:linters]
+basepython = python3
 # bashate ignore:
 #  E006 - accept long lines
 #  E040 - false positive on |& syntax (new in bash 4)
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ commands =
          -print0 | xargs -0 bashate -v -iE006,E040"
 
 [testenv:venv]
+basepython = python3
 commands = {posargs}
 
 [testenv:docs]
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ commands =
 whitelist_externals = rm
 
 [testenv:newnote]
+basepython = python3
 # Re-use the releasenotes venv
 envdir = {toxworkdir}/releasenotes
 deps = -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt