diff --git a/pipenv/core.py b/pipenv/core.py
index 836aaedf..fa9d457f 100644
--- a/pipenv/core.py
+++ b/pipenv/core.py
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ def do_create_virtualenv(python=None, site_packages=False):
             cmd.append('--system-site-packages')
     else:
         # Default: use pew.
-        cmd = ['python', '-m', 'pipenv.pew', 'new', project.virtualenv_name, '-d']
+        cmd = [sys.executable, '-m', 'pipenv.pew', 'new', project.virtualenv_name, '-d']
 
     # Pass a Python version to virtualenv, if needed.
     if python:
@@ -2074,7 +2074,7 @@ def do_shell(three=None, python=False, fancy=False, shell_args=None):
         else:
             workon_name = project.virtualenv_name
 
-        cmd = 'python'
+        cmd = sys.executable
         args = ['-m', 'pipenv.pew', 'workon', workon_name]
 
     # Grab current terminal dimensions to replace the hardcoded default