diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
index 495f4c372ab..1f68899ce95 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ import sys, os, re
 from distutils.core import Command
 from distutils.dep_util import newer
 
-# check if Python is called on the first line with this expression
-first_line_re = re.compile(r'^#!.*python(\s+.*)?')
+# check if Python is called on the first line with this expression.
+# This expression will leave lines using /usr/bin/env alone; presumably
+# the script author knew what they were doing...)
+first_line_re = re.compile(r'^#!(?!\s*/usr/bin/env\b).*python(\s+.*)?')
 
 class build_scripts (Command):