diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
index bfa33c3a10a..444284f7cc3 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_scripts.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from distutils.dep_util import newer
 from distutils.util import convert_path
 
 # check if Python is called on the first line with this expression
-first_line_re = re.compile(r'^#!.*python(\s+.*)?$')
+first_line_re = re.compile(r'^#!.*python[0-9.]*(\s+.*)?$')
 
 class build_scripts (Command):